Chapter 23 The Domineering CEO [VIP]
Dark clouds gathered overhead, and pedestrians on the road, whether going to work or going out for a meal, quickened their pace.
At this crucial moment when Yan Chen is about to discover the truth, the system appears even more nervous than Qing Ran, who is directly involved.
It didn't know why it was so nervous, even though it knew all along that this was a part of the story it had to go through.
Seeing that the host still had the mind to leisurely observe the passersby, it couldn't help but feel puzzled.
[Host, aren't you nervous?]
Qingran deliberately slowed her pace, afraid that if she went back too quickly, some people wouldn't have finished talking.
What are you nervous about?
The system stated unequivocally: "[We secretly kept Yan Chen's items according to the plot, which is why he only found out the truth after so long!]"
Otherwise, Yan Chen would have been able to contact Assistant Hong the day after the car accident.
Moreover, the host secretly added scenes outside the main plot, creating a romantic storyline between him and Yan Chen...
Now their actions are about to be exposed!
Qingran didn't take it to heart, saying, "[Well, that's what happens when one of us is the villain and the other is the villainous system. What's meant to happen will happen, and what's meant to be borne will be borne.]"
The system then realized, "That's right!"
They belong to the cannon fodder villain division, and their job is to play the villain and do bad things.
Now that they've reached a crucial plot point, with only half of their villainous mission remaining, they should be happy about the rewards they're about to receive.
It immediately changed its mind: [The host is right, I was too stupid to think things through. Do you need me to remind you of the upcoming plot?]
No need.
It took Qingran half an hour to get home, a journey that should have been a ten-minute walk.
Open the door and go inside.
The living room was dimly lit and oppressive due to the gloomy sky.
The man stood with his back to him by the table, his lonely figure seemingly about to be swallowed up by the dim light.
"Why aren't the lights on?" He snapped the lights on.
As the living room lights came on, the man at the table shifted sluggishly, like a sculpture suddenly awakened.
Qingran seemed oblivious as she walked over and placed the watermelon on the table, saying as she did so, "It gets dark so quickly outside. It was still a bit of dawn when I left."
"...Is it raining?" the man asked slowly, turning around and checking Qingran's clothes to see if they were dry.
Not yet, but it will be soon.
Yan Chen stopped talking and looked down at the hand that was idly slapping a watermelon.
His right hand tightened around his side, gripping a phone that was so hard it hurt his hand.
The conversation that had happened not long ago flooded his mind, along with the icy warmth of his palms, urging him to speak.
Yan Chen placed the phone, which did not belong to him, on the table.
"I just received a call looking for me; I might have to go out for a bit."
The thumping sound of the watermelon being slapped stopped for a moment.
"Now? It's about to rain."
"I will bring an umbrella."
Qingran paused and stopped, then said, "If you've decided, then go."
"Is there anything you want to ask me?" Yan Chen asked, staring intently at him.
Knowing he has amnesia, it's unlikely that anyone would specifically look for him under normal circumstances.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Qingran looked up in confusion.
Her face, as beautiful as a lotus blossom, was as stunning as ever, as if a single glance could burn you.
"...It's nothing." The man lowered his eyelashes, and after a while, said, "Do you want to come with me?"
The person being asked declined readily: "No, I just got back and don't want to go out."
The wind outside the window gradually picked up, sweeping across the treetops and buildings, bringing a desolate murmur.
Yan Chen glanced at the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, then turned and left with a single word.
"good."
Outside the residential area, the sky was dark as if night had fallen.
Dust and stones flew in the street, leaflets and fallen leaves were scattered everywhere, and everyone was rushing indoors, except for one man who walked against the flow of people to go outside.
The man was very tall with excellent proportions; even in a simple t-shirt and cargo pants, he looked like a male model walking the runway.
An old man who had bought groceries and was in a hurry to get home was running without looking where he was going. He bumped into someone and looked up as if he was about to curse, but when he saw the man's cold and aggressive expression, he was so frightened that he fell silent.
Yan Chen didn't spare his attention for irrelevant people and stepped into the open storefront on the street.
We've arrived at Huijing Teahouse.
Perhaps due to the weather, there were hardly any customers drinking tea in the teahouse; the interior was spacious and quiet.
As I reached the stairwell and prepared to go upstairs, an excited voice suddenly rang out from above.
"Brother Yan Chen!"
Su Yu was overjoyed to see Yan Chen appear at the second-floor window and rushed over to greet him.
Yan Chen looked up at the sound.
The moment he saw the person's face, a sense of familiarity naturally arose in his heart, even though he couldn't recall anything.
This made Yan Chen's heart sink completely.
When he first saw Qingran, he felt only unfamiliarity.
Su Yu ran downstairs without stopping, a bright smile on her face. When she reached the last few steps, she opened her arms and rushed straight towards Yan Chen.
Then Yan Chen stepped aside, preventing the hug from happening.
"Brother Yan Chen." Su Yu pouted, embarrassed and annoyed. Even with amnesia, she still didn't like physical contact.
Hmph, considering his amnesia, he won't force a hug.
After barely calming down, she started chattering about her guilt and worries during this time.
"How badly are you hurt, Brother Yan Chen? It's all my fault. If I hadn't made that call, you wouldn't have gotten into this mess."
Where have you been all this time? Why haven't you contacted us?
"The police said there was someone with you when you reported the incident. Who was that person? Why didn't they come with you? Did they save you?"
A series of questions came out of Su Yu's mouth.
"You're asking so many questions, which one should President Yan answer first?" Hong Yue, who followed closely behind, said.
Meeting Yan Chen's scrutinizing and indifferent gaze, he paused and extended his right hand.
Mr. Yan's reaction seemed a bit off.
"I'm Hong Yue. We were classmates in college before graduation, and I've been your assistant since. Shall we talk upstairs?"
Yan Chen looked down at the hand extended in front of him, and shook it back without any emotion on his face.
He also felt a sense of familiarity with this person.
Half an hour later, at the booth by the window on the second floor.
"...That's roughly your situation."
"I started working for you before I even graduated, so I know more about the company's affairs. As for personal matters..."
Hong Yue poured Yan Chen a cup of tea and said, "It is said that the Yan family and the Su family are old friends. You and Su Yu have known each other since childhood. If you want to know anything, you can ask him."
"Mmm-hmm." Su Yu nodded repeatedly beside him: "Brother Yan Chen, what do you want to know?"
He has a Beijing hukou (household registration), graduated from a prestigious university, and is worth billions.
In China in the early 2000s, all of these conditions, which would have been exciting on their own, were bestowed upon Yan Chen.
But Yan Chen showed no joy on his face.
The family background and family member information are now known. Both parents died when the child was young, and the grandmother passed away after the child reached adulthood…
Pushing aside the documents the two had brought as evidence, the man calmly asked, "What about your romantic history?"
Hong Yue looked surprised, but quickly picked up his teacup and took a sip to cover it up.
Su Yu didn't think much of it and retorted without hesitation: "What romantic experience do I have? Grandma Xu is very strict with you."
"You have no personal time during the school year. Your grades must consistently be in the top three in the whole school, or you will be punished by being put in solitary confinement."
"In addition to classes, students also need to learn etiquette, appreciation, familiarize themselves with interpersonal relationships within the circle, and acquire business knowledge."
"After graduating and joining the group, you'll be even busier. Grandma Xu is getting old and is eager to train you to take over. As soon as you join the group, you'll have to take over the group's business and fight for power from those disloyal directors."
"Sometimes I want to ask you out for a meal but I can't find you. Where would you find the time to date?"
Su Yu recounted his past experiences.
The more I talked about it, the more I felt sorry for Yan Chen. I shouldn't have gotten angry with him before because Yan Chen always rejected my invitations.
But you can't entirely blame him!
He understood that Yan Chen was busy in the past, but later Chang Sheng basically became Yan Chen's personal fiefdom, and Yan Chen didn't seem to reduce his workload or spend more time with him.
Is he really less important than those cold, hard numbers than someone I grew up with?
Su Yu was torn between feeling sorry for Yan Chen and feeling wronged herself.
At this moment, Yan Chen asked, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely, definitely, and without a doubt!" Su Yu said angrily, annoyed that he didn't believe her.
However, Yan Chen repeatedly confirmed something he would never have touched in the past, which was itself very unusual.
"Why do you ask that?" Hong Yue put down his teacup and probed.
Yan Chen glanced at him, his eyes calm yet sharp.
Even with amnesia, he's still so perceptive.
"...You should know most about the situation before you lost your memory. I wonder what happened after the car accident that day?"
Why have we been out of contact for so long?
The man remained silent.
Hong Yue was certain something was wrong with him, but he started talking about something else:
"The medical level in Feixian County is average. Once we return to Beijing, I will arrange for a hospital to conduct another detailed examination for you as soon as possible. Perhaps it can cure your amnesia."
"Yes, yes, let's go back tomorrow!" Su Yu said happily.
Yan Chen looked at Hong Yue knowingly, realizing that the other party was testing him in this way.
But she still said, "Tomorrow won't work; I have some things to take care of."
...
Not long after Yan Chen left, large raindrops began to pour down.
Accompanied by the pattering of rain, Qingran carried a watermelon into the kitchen, sliced it open with a slicing knife, revealing two juicy halves of flesh.
After putting the excess fruit pulp in the refrigerator to keep it fresh, Qingran sat in the living room and ate some watermelon.
The owner was right when he was trying to attract customers by saying that the melon was sweet and juicy.
Some people eat watermelon without spitting out the seeds, but Qingran doesn't.
He leisurely finished eating the watermelon, went to the bathroom to wash the stickiness off his hands, and then returned to the living room to read.
If you ignore the fact that he was reading a little slower than usual, he seemed to be leisurely killing time.
I don't know how much time passed.
[Host, Yan Chen is back.]
[At the door?]
[He's downstairs, but he didn't bring an umbrella. Should we go pick him up?]
Qingran paused and turned to the next page.
How can you be sure he'll want to see me?
The system was greatly puzzled.
But when Yan Chen went upstairs and actually stopped outside the door, refusing to come in, it realized that what its host had said was actually true.
Yan Chen didn't want to see his host!
Okay, I understand.
It would be hard for anyone to accept that their supposed savior, the fake boyfriend, was actually the culprit who caused them to go missing.
The system showed some sympathy for Yan Chen, but not much, just three seconds.
That's just how the plot is written; someone has to play the villain, right? It felt perfectly justified in going off to eavesdrop on Su Yu's situation again.
Qingran, seeing that the door remained untouched by knocking or opening for a long time, finally put down her book and went to the door.
Click, the door is pushed open.
The man standing at the door slowly raised his eyes upon hearing the noise.
He was soaked to the bone by the rain, his hair was swept back to reveal sharp eyebrows and eyes, his face was pale and his pupils were dark.
A drop of water slid down her forehead to the corner of her eye, then dripped down her chin into a small puddle at her feet.
Qingran took Yan Chen's hand, and the first time she touched it, it was ice-cold.
He pulled the man into the house, led him to the bathroom, turned on the light, and started the hot shower.
The rising steam quickly filled the small bathroom space.
He reached out to adjust the water temperature, and then two hands reached out from behind to wrap around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
The man's voice was husky and magnetic, and his cheek was close to his ear.
"Ao Ran."
"Um?"
"Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Yes, I have."
A note from the author:
Thanks for watering! *kissing*
Reader "Jiji Explodes: A Hero in Fairy Tales" watered the page with +5 nutrient solution.
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