Chapter 72

072

"Is this... Chen Feng?" Yang Chen finally recognized the poor guy, not expecting it to be him.

At this moment, Chen Feng looked completely different from the last time Yang Chen saw him. His originally thin face was now a sickly yellow, his hair was messy as if he had rolled in a bush, his cheeks were sunken, and there were many scratches and bruises on his body.

What made him even harder to recognize was his dazed, crazy, and deranged expression. He looked more like a mindless human animal than a person.

The former young master of the Chen family had now become a half-human, half-ghost figure, truly a case of fate playing a cruel joke.

However, Yang Chen did not feel any pity for him. Cause and effect have their own retribution, and Chen Feng's current state was the result of his past bullying.

Zhang Ying's gaze was filled with venom as she looked at Chen Feng. He had ruined her life, and she had every reason to hate him.

"That's right, but he's no longer called Chen Feng. He's just a dog I keep!" As Zhang Ying spoke, she suddenly pulled the rope in her hand!

Chen Feng, who had been struggling with Lin Kun, was suddenly dragged to the ground, screaming hoarsely. He then quickly crawled to Zhang Ying's feet like a dog, starting to lick her toes that were exposed in her sandals.

It was only then that Yang Chen noticed that Chen Feng's neck was fitted with a leather collar for pets, and the rope was held in Zhang Ying's hand!

Chen Feng's actions were completely devoid of reason, clearly the result of too much mental stimulation.

"I want to shoot this beast every time I see him, but my sister won't allow it," Zhang Hu said harshly.

"Killing him would be too easy. I want to torture him. He used to play with me, so I let other men play with him. Every night, the brothers and sisters he once bullied play with him. When they get tired of him, I'll kill him," Zhang Ying said matter-of-factly. "Mr. Yang, do you need my pet to serve that old man?"

Yang Chen looked at Lin Kun, who had fainted from pain, and said expressionlessly, "Do as you please, as long as he doesn't die, I don't care."

With that, Yang Chen turned and left. He had no interest in watching what was happening. Whether it was Lin Kun or Chen Feng, their fates were no longer important.

But life is full of unexpected turns.

While Yang Chen was driving back to the hospital, Zhang Hu called again, delivering news that made Yang Chen pause—Lin Kun had gone insane!

After multiple failed attempts at revenge, being thrown into a trash can, and being tied up by mercenaries, Lin Kun, who had lost all his shares in Yulei International and was left with nothing, was already disheartened. Now, being stripped of his last bit of dignity by a beast-like Chen Feng...

Once a wealthy young man who indulged in a life of pleasure, he had come to such a tragic end.

Going insane might be a form of release for Lin Kun.

Yang Chen only asked Zhang Hu to send Lin Kun to the Zhonghai Mental Hospital, and Zhang Hu understood what else needed to be done.

As Yang Chen felt a slight sigh at Lin Kun's madness, he suddenly received a call from Mo Qianyi. This beautiful boss had never been kind to him, and even after he saved her, she still looked at him as if he owed her money, much to Yang Chen's frustration.

"Hello, Miss Mo, what do you need?" Yang Chen said listlessly.

Mo Qianyi on the other end was a bit annoyed, "What's wrong? Do you feel wronged talking to me or something?"

"Not at all, I'm honored," Yang Chen frowned, this woman was really looking for trouble.

Mo Qianyi huffed, "I'm telling you, I'm inviting you to dinner tonight, don't be ungrateful."

Yang Chen was skeptical and asked cautiously, "Miss Mo, you're not going to ask me to collect debts again, are you?"

"Go to hell, Yang Chen! I'm inviting you to dinner to thank you for saving me. Do you think I'm the kind of woman who looks for trouble and is insensitive!?"

Well, she is... Yang Chen thought to himself but agreed verbally, as there was no reason to refuse, and he was really hungry.

"Then come to the company parking lot, I'll drive us there," Mo Qianyi said and hung up without waiting for a response.

Yang Chen, with an empty stomach, sped up and soon arrived at the underground parking lot of Yulei International. It was already after work hours, and the parking lot was almost empty.

Mo Qianyi's red Audi A4 was parked in a corner, standing out. She was looking at her watch, waiting for him.

Mo Qianyi had changed into casual clothes, a black chiffon dress that perfectly hugged her slender waist and firm buttocks. Her long, smooth, black hair was let down, complementing her outfit. Her slightly made-up face was still as elegant and beautiful, fitting the traditional image of an Eastern beauty.

If it weren't for her "cruel and ruthless" nature, Yang Chen would have been as captivated by Mo Qianyi's mature charm as other men.

"Get in the car," Mo Qianyi said without much ado, opening the door and getting into the driver's seat as soon as she saw Yang Chen.

After Yang Chen got in, Mo Qianyi turned on the car audio, connecting an elegant silver iPod via AUX. An old Chen Shuhua song, "Dreams at Dawn," played softly in the car.

Mo Qianyi didn't speak to Yang Chen again, driving on her own.

As the car hit the road, Yang Chen was surprised to find that Mo Qianyi's iPod was full of classic old songs, including works by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

"You seem to be quite nostalgic," Yang Chen remarked, impressed that this young urban woman had this side to her.

Mo Qianyi glanced at Yang Chen, "New things are easily forgotten, but what isn't forgotten is worth savoring..." She paused, "But you, a crude person, wouldn't understand."

"I understand," Yang Chen said seriously, "A few years ago, I thought Jessica Alba was very beautiful, spicy, and sexy. But after she got pregnant, I realized that Marilyn Monroe, who had been dead for many years, was even more charming."

Mo Qianyi almost spat blood on the steering wheel. If she didn't need to drive, she would have kicked this shameless guy out!

The rest of the journey was unusually quiet, with only the soothing rhythm of British rock playing in the car.

When the car stopped, Mo Qianyi said, "We're here, get out."

Yang Chen looked out the window in confusion, pointing at the neon sign ahead, "Are you sure we're eating here?"

"Is there a problem?" Mo Qianyi asked with a frown.

Yang Chen shook his head, "I'm just surprised you'd eat here. I thought you'd take me to some high-end, elegant restaurant for a Western or French meal, something that matches your status."

"I like street food and night markets, so you guessed wrong," Mo Qianyi glared at Yang Chen, "Get out!"

Street food was fine with Yang Chen, as long as someone else was paying, since he didn't have his wallet.

Along the river in the suburbs of Zhonghai, the night market was bustling like a long, coiled dragon, stretching as far as the eye could see. Various tents were supported by bamboo or metal poles, of different sizes.

Colorful neon lights illuminated the names of the night market stalls, and the streets were crowded with people. To Yang Chen's surprise, most were white-collar workers from Zhonghai, many in suits and uniforms, some with their ties loosened, chatting and laughing as they walked.

The river breeze provided some relief from the heat, making the air more pleasant. The smell of seafood and vegetables gave the place a unique rural atmosphere, which might be what city dwellers needed.

Despite the crowd, Mo Qianyi in her black chiffon dress was still a striking figure.

If not for her stern gaze, Mo Qianyi was indeed a seductive and beautiful woman, with a graceful figure and a firm, attractive buttocks.

Walking with such a woman, Yang Chen easily attracted jealous glances from other men.

"Do you often come here?" Yang Chen, unfamiliar with such a place in Zhonghai, looked around curiously and asked.

Mo Qianyi nodded, "It's been a while."

"Which one should we choose?" Yang Chen asked, noticing the numerous night market stalls, which, though similar, must vary in cooking quality.

Mo Qianyi glanced at him, "Just follow me."

Yang Chen didn't ask further, noticing that Mo Qianyi seemed unusually quiet, as if lost in thought or reminiscing.

After walking for seven or eight minutes, Mo Qianyi led Yang Chen to a moderately busy stall called "Sichuan Flavor Night Market," clearly a Sichuan-style night market.

A slightly older, plump woman with graying hair saw Mo Qianyi and walked over with a smile, "Nizi, it's been so long! I've missed you so much!"

Mo Qianyi also smiled warmly and hugged the woman, not minding the oil stains on her clothes.

"Xiang'e, I've been busy with work lately. I'm treating a friend to dinner today, and I had some free time to visit you," Mo Qianyi said, holding Xiang'e's hand.

Xiang'e glanced at Yang Chen behind Mo Qianyi, with a knowing smile, "Is this your boyfriend? Don't tell me you're treating a friend to dinner. You found a boyfriend and didn't tell Aunt Xiang'e!"

Mo Qianyi blushed and shook her head, "No, Xiang'e, he's my friend's husband and also my colleague. He helped me today, so I'm treating him to dinner."

"Is that so..." Xiang'e smiled a bit regretfully and said, "Nizi's friend, don't be shy, sit down. It's your first time here, so Aunt Xiang'e will treat you to some good food, on the house!"

Yang Chen thanked her and found a small table with Mo Qianyi. Xiang'e brought tea and went to the kitchen to prepare the food.

"Are you close with the owner? Is she a relative?" Yang Chen asked curiously.

Mo Qianyi took a sip of tea and wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, "Xiang'e is from my hometown. When I first came to Zhonghai, I didn't know anyone, and she helped me a lot. She's a very kind person."

"So you're from Sichuan?" Yang Chen was surprised, "In the hospital, you said you've known Ruoxi for many years. So you must have come to Zhonghai when you were thirteen or fourteen?"

"What's so strange about that?" Mo Qianyi asked.

Yang Chen shook his head, "I just admire you. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl coming to such a big city alone and achieving so much in just a few years. But why did your parents let you come here alone?"

Mo Qianyi's eyes dimmed, and she said softly, "My hometown is in the mountains, very poor. We lived off a few terraced fields. My father died when I was thirteen, and I didn't even know what he died of. My mother worked hard to raise me, so she remarried to another man in the village."

Yang Chen was speechless, not expecting such a dark past behind Mo Qianyi's polished exterior.

"You didn't agree with your mother's remarriage, so you left home?" Yang Chen asked after a moment of silence.

"No," Mo Qianyi turned her head, wiping her eyes, "I had my reasons for leaving. Besides, there was no middle school, no high school, and no university there. I didn't want to waste my life there."

Yang Chen noticed Mo Qianyi's eyes were red and knew she didn't want to think about it, so he changed the subject, "You didn't bring me here just to catch up with an old friend, did you?"

Mo Qianyi glanced at Yang Chen, "Xiang'e's cooking is very good. I brought you here partly to see her, but also to thank you for saving me today."

"Anyone would have saved you. You're my wife and my boss. I couldn't just let you die," Yang Chen said frankly.

"Saving you is your business, thanking you is mine. As for Ruoxi, she's already given herself to you as a wife, so she doesn't need to treat you to dinner like I do," Mo Qianyi said matter-of-factly.

"Hey, that's not fair. What do you mean 'given herself to me as a wife'?" Yang Chen said, feeling frustrated, "Is it so bad to marry me? Look, I risked my life to save her, what a great husband I am!"

Mo Qianyi said, "Saving her is your duty, but whether you deserve her is a different matter. What do you do besides playing games, being a rogue, and being a scoundrel? No ambition, no career, and no manners. You're a Harvard graduate, fluent in multiple languages, and yet you do nothing. The most shameful people in the world are those who have the ability but refuse to act!"