"Huh? I didn't say anything!"
Xena Xu now realized that not only could she hear herself, but Cora Chen could hear her too!
Xena narrowed her eyes and thought, "I need to observe more carefully. I have to figure out this strange phenomenon."
Without speaking aloud, she looked at the two men.
Fyren Zhang awkwardly said, "Uh... I still have some things to take care of... Let's talk another time, haha."
"Oh." Cora forced a smile and nodded. "Okay."
"Hey, don't go! Stay and chat!"
Xena was like someone watching a funeral without caring about the mourners' feelings.
Holding her crossbody bag, Cora said to Fyren, "Fyren, I heard you're getting engaged to Eliza soon, right?"
Fyren couldn't wait to slap this troublemaker!
This was truly a case of opening old wounds!
Talking about his engagement in front of his ex-girlfriend - could it be any more awkward?
"Xena Xu, you're my nemesis, I swear. If you weren't Otto Long's woman, I'd corner you and give you the spanking you deserve!"
Both girls were startled.
Xena understood this was an expression of anger - she'd really crossed a line this time. Instead of getting angry, she secretly smirked.
But Cora couldn't tolerate such words.
Cora's face darkened. "Fyren, congratulations."
Fyren awkwardly replied, "Not at all, not at all... It's not finalized yet. You know how much Eliza keeps me at arm's length."
Cora didn't want to continue the conversation. She offered a polite smile. "You two chat. I have things to attend to."
Fyren quickly said, "Oh, I'm busy too. Another time then."
Watching Cora walk away, Fyren felt a pang of regret.
Memories flooded his mind.
He and Cora had truly been childhood sweethearts.
To say he didn't regret his actions would be a lie. If only he hadn't fooled around... he wouldn't have become the villainous Fyren Zhang.
[I was wrong before. I'm sorry.]
I sincerely wish you happiness.
Cora hadn't gone far when she clearly heard these words in her heart.
Suddenly she felt a surge of emotion, her eyes stinging.
She stopped walking.
Almost unconsciously, she turned back to look at Fyren - her gaze sultry, regretful, sorrowful, mournful...
Fyren was watching her longingly, and when she turned, their eyes met again.
He quickly forced a smile and waved.
Cora returned a polite smile before walking away.
Xena shook her head and sighed. "What a pity. You two were so good together back then - we were all envious. But you had to be a scumbag, playing around and breaking hearts."
Fyren looked at Xena: "I've just realized something about you..."
At that moment, Chloe stumbled over, her face twisted with anxiety, on the verge of tears. "Fyren, I need to take time off."
"What's wrong?"
"My mom is critically ill. The doctor said..." Her voice broke as she sobbed, "The doctor said she might not make it!"
Xena Xu narrowed her eyes.
Fyren Zhang was stunned.
[It can't be! Her mom was supposed to be cured by Otto Long—she can't die before he even gets to her!]
[This wasn't supposed to happen!]
Fyren Zhang's mind raced. "Don't panic. Go to the hospital and stay with your mom. I'll figure something out."
"Thank you, Fyren!"
Chloe turned and ran off, tears streaming down her face.
Xena Xu frowned in confusion. Why does it have to be Otto Long? Does he have three heads or something?
I'm standing right here. If you really want to save someone, just ask me, won't you?
Fyren Zhang ignored Xena Xu and rushed into the bathroom, shouting, "Nobody come in!"
Once inside, he immediately called the system.
Dingdong!
"What's going on? What's happening with Chloe's mom?"
"Oh, you don't know, Host? Chloe's mom has a rare disease, and now she's—"
"I know she's sick! I mean, why is she dying now?"
"Oh, because she got sick, and now she's having a critical episode, so she's dying!"
"Damn it! Do you even understand human language? According to the plot, shouldn't Otto Long cure her? And then they'd end up together?"
"Yeah, the cure was supposed to happen today, but you locked Otto Long up—remember? It's fine, it's fine. Just one life. Otto Long still has over nine hundred other ways to win Chloe over."
Fyren Zhang's eyes widened. "Even you—Holy shit!"
This wasn't some trivial matter!
He'd blocked Otto Long for one day, and now Chloe's mom was collateral damage?
Did that mean he had killed her?
How could the plot go so wrong like this?
Fyren Zhang hurriedly said, "I'm unblocking him now! Let him out so he can save Chloe's mom!"
"Sorry, but once the blocking card is activated, it can't be undone yet."
"A life is at stake! Can't you make an exception? That girl is crying!"
"Of course she's crying. Anyone would cry if their mom was dying. If you don't like hearing it, just avoid her for a while. It's normal."
"Normal my *ss—"
Fyren Zhang was beyond frustrated. "You guys just wait!"
He pulled out his phone and dialed Eliza Leng's number.
"Hello." Eliza's voice was icy.
"Eliza, uh... it's Fyren Zhang."
"Got it. What do you want? Calling to show off your new girlfriend?"
"No," Fyren Zhang said. "That Otto Long—your former bodyguard. You have his phone number, right?"
"No."
"Please, I'm begging you. A life is at stake. He was employed at your company—he must have filled out personal information. There has to be contact details somewhere..."
"Not interested."
"This isn't about being interested! Someone could die!"
"Who?"
"My secretary's mother."
"What does that have to do with Otto Long?"
"He's the only one who can cure that rare disease. Hurry up and get me his contact info."
"Meet me in person. I'm on the twenty-ninth floor of your launch hotel."
Eliza Leng hung up.
Fyren Zhang arrived at the twenty-ninth floor, and Eliza dismissed her staff.
She looked at him, clearly still angry.
Fyren Zhang forced a smile. "Busy, huh? Did you find the number?"
"I found it, but it's turned off. Can't get through."
"Shit!"
Fyren Zhang slumped in despair.
Does this mean I've killed Chloe's mom? No way—the plot can't go like this!
"I don't get it. Isn't your girlfriend Xena Xu some world-famous medical expert? Our family's entire medical team comes from her group. Why go searching elsewhere?"
Fyren Zhang thought to himself:
[You have no idea what I'm dealing with. That damn girl hates me! She's trying to trap me at every turn—there's nothing she won't do.]
Eliza Leng narrowed her eyes.
This guy isn't even dating Xena Xu—he's just trying to piss me off!
Fyren Zhang asked, "Then do you have Otto Long's address?"
"I sent someone to check. He's not home. I've got people watching the place."
"Oh... okay."
Just then, the door opened—the Secretary General walked in.
He smiled at Fyren Zhang. "Good day, Fyren."
"Yeah."
"Eliza, Jason's team is already in the conference room. The contracts are ready."
"Got it."
Eliza Leng stood and slipped on her jacket. "Make yourself comfortable if you want. I've got a deal to sign."
"Wait!"
Fyren Zhang turned to the Secretary General. "Jason? Which Jason?"
"Jason."
Fyren Zhang froze.
Everything's completely messed up now!
Jason was a villain—a real villain.
In the original plot, he set up this project, tricked Eliza Leng into investing, and Otto Long was supposed to stop the signing at the last second—exposing Jason's scheme.
But oops!
Today, Otto Long was locked up by him, and as a result, Eliza Leng was about to sign with Jason!
Why the hell was everything happening at once?
Fyren Zhang quickly stopped Eliza Leng. "Eliza, how much do you know about Jason?"
"Not much. He's a foreign businessman with a good reputation and strong connections."
Beads of sweat formed on Fyren Zhang's forehead. "Here's the thing—could you postpone signing Jason's contract until tomorrow?"
"Are you kidding me? This isn't some children's game!"
"I'm serious! He..." Fyren Zhang hesitated. "How should I put this?"
[If I tell her it's a scam, then Otto Long won't get to intervene later, and I'll lose another chance to play the hero!]
[But if I don't tell her, she's going to sign with Jason today.]
[I have to find a way to delay the signing until tomorrow. It has to be tomorrow—when Otto Long is released.]
Eliza Leng's heart skipped a beat!
This contract is a trap! How does Fyren Zhang know?
Why is he so certain Otto Long would come stop me from signing?
If he said it out loud, I wouldn't believe him—but no one would lie to themselves in their own thoughts, right?
This guy... He's been pursuing me for three years. This would be the perfect opportunity to win me over, yet he still wants to give the credit to someone else!
Eliza Leng watched Fyren Zhang silently, waiting to see what he'd do next.
Fyren Zhang thought for a moment. "I just think... today's an inauspicious day for signing contracts. The almanac says it clashes with the year's fortune."
Eliza Leng scoffed. "I don't believe in that superstition."
With that, she grabbed her handbag and turned to leave.
Fyren Zhang pulled her back. "Eliza, don't go!"
Eliza Leng glared. "Let go! Fyren Zhang, you're being ridiculous!"
Fyren Zhang immediately released her and forced a smile. "Sorry, sorry. Eliza, today really isn't a good day for signing."
Eliza Leng said to the Secretary General, "Tell Finance to prepare the wire transfer."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Eliza Leng strode ahead while Fyren Zhang followed closely, rambling:
"Eliza, can you just trust me this once? Think about it—have I ever lied to you before?"
Eliza Leng turned back in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, right, I... haven't exactly been truthful, haha. But—think about it, haven't I always had your best interests at heart?"
Eliza Leng stopped walking and stared at him silently.
"Aye! I'm... always looking out for myself, but... damn it all. Why am I so rotten? I've done so many terrible things in my life that nobody believes me now."
Eliza Leng couldn't help but sneer slightly before quickly straightening her expression again. "Do you have business to discuss? Don't keep me from making money."
Eliza Leng's team walked past Fyren Zhang, each member bowing their head in greeting.
Fyren Zhang couldn't be bothered with them. Watching Eliza Leng's retreating back, he gritted his teeth in frustration.
[Damn it! I'm not just some minor villain! I'm a villain too - and I'm a bigger one than you!]
[Today, we'll have a villain showdown. If you manage to sign that contract, I'll write my name backwards!]
Screw the rules! Villains don't follow them anyway!
Fyren Zhang made his decision - he would throw caution to the wind!