Mu Zi's heart sank, a mix of despair and anger washing over him like cold water from head to toe, chilling him to the core.
He wished it was all an illusion, or perhaps just a dream, but...
He had seen it clearly. The lady boss was being carried out of the car by the man with glasses, nestling her head on his chest like a lovebird. They entered the villa intimately, hand in hand.
This scene left Mu Zi profoundly disappointed and disgusted. All his good feelings for the lady boss were suddenly thrown out the window.
So it was all true... Why would she do this?
Mu Zi walked out of the bushes, staggering back the way he came, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.
In his mind, two images kept flashing: one of the beautiful and kind lady boss and the other of his evil, scheming stepmother. No matter how hard Mu Zi tried, he couldn't prevent these two images from merging into one...
Sister Ning, you've left me in despair!
As he walked troubledly along the roadside, a sharp screech of brakes sounded from behind, startling him. Turning around, he saw the Audi that had been following the taxi, now parked behind him. The window rolled down, revealing a bald head.
"The boss?" Mu Zi asked in surprise.
Sitting in the Audi, following all this while, was indeed the boss!
He had sat there, watching his wife with another man...?
"Get in," said the boss emotionlessly, gesturing for Mu Zi to join him. Mu Zi, still puzzled, got into the car and sat in the back. There was no one else inside.
The boss silently took out a cigarette pack, lit one, and exhaled a ring of smoke before asking, "You saw everything?"
Mu Zi felt awkward but had no choice but to nod in admission: "Yeah."
"Heh," the boss took a deep drag, his laughter sounding strange. "Then, are you interested in seeing these?"
Without turning back, the boss reached for an envelope near the dashboard and handed it to Mu Zi.
Hesitantly, Mu Zi opened the envelope to find dozens of photos.
Looking at the photos, Mu Zi's hands started shaking uncontrollably.
These were intimate photos of the lady boss and the man with glasses, in various compromising poses. They were clearly taken from a distance but were startlingly clear. Whoever took these photos had done so covertly and with considerable skill.
Mu Zi quickly glanced through a few photos, then couldn't bear to look any longer. He hastily put them back into the envelope and handed it back to the boss.
The boss took the envelope back and asked softly, "What do you think?"
Mu Zi stayed silent for a while before shaking his head.
"When I first started from scratch, I worked hard for eight years to build a fortune," the boss leaned back in his seat, looking up at the car ceiling, his voice filled with sorrow. "I was rough around the edges, but I was devoted to love. I fell for her at first sight, and she seemed to reciprocate. I didn't mind her poverty, and she didn't seem to care about my coarseness. We quickly became a couple. I still remember our vows clearly..." The boss paused, looked back at Mu Zi, and suddenly asked, "How old are you?"
"Eighteen," Mu Zi replied truthfully.
"Eighteen... you're still too young to understand... Let's stop talking about this. Come, let's have a drink," the boss said, starting the car again.
"But I should return to the restaurant," Mu Zi muttered.
"No need," the boss sighed. "Ningxiang Pavilion... well, you don't need to rush back. Have a drink with me," he said, his voice trailing off.
Mu Zi was puzzled but didn't press further.
The boss drove quickly to a bar named 'Drunken Dreams'. Mu Zi followed him inside, finding it fitting for the mood. The bar was almost empty during the day. The boss ordered a private room and a lot of alcohol, drinking recklessly.
Mu Zi watched in alarm as the boss drowned himself in liquor. He couldn't advise him, understanding his feelings too well. So, he just watched silently.
Mu Zi rarely drank. Clutching his glass, he lost himself in thought.
So much had happened in the past two days - the unexpected reunion with Lao San, the terrible news about Yezi, the lady boss's generosity, the despicable scene with the man with glasses, and the sudden appearance of the boss...
Overwhelmed, Mu Zi realized he had no hair to twirl on his forehead, remembering his recent haircut...