At exactly 8 PM on October 9, 1998, the signing banquet between Lusheng Audio Company, Gelüshi Audio Company, and the farmers of Wangmiao Village officially commenced in the medium-sized banquet hall on the 5th floor of the Mingzhu Hotel. The attendees included representatives of the signing parties, journalists, and special guests from the audio industry, totaling over 60 people. The Ancient City Mingzhu Etiquette Company provided the banquet's ceremonial services. The atmosphere in the hall was neither overly enthusiastic nor noticeably reserved, maintaining a peaceful, pleasant, and courteous ambiance.
Liu Bing did not enter the banquet hall. Instead, he stood by the window in the lounge, watching coldly as Xiao Yawen delivered the opening speech. Seeing Xiao Yawen being photographed, served, and surrounded as the central figure made Liu Bing feel a pang of jealousy and discomfort, even the slightest smile or gesture from her annoyed him.
Two hostesses stood at the entrance of the dining room. Liu Bing approached one of them, exchanged a few words, and pointed out Ouyang Xue seated at Table 5. Then he waited.
Soon, the hostess brought Ouyang Xue out.
"I saw you pacing outside the window. Why don't you come in?" Ouyang Xue asked.
Liu Bing indicated his briefcase, "It's not convenient to talk here. Let's sit over there."
To the left of the hall was a "coffee garden," raised half a foot above the ground and surrounded by potted plants, with four or five small round tables and high-backed chairs, next to a bar. Ouyang Xue followed Liu Bing, sensing from his expression that something was up. Liu Bing handed 50 yuan to the approaching waitress and ordered two cups of coffee.
Ouyang Xue sat down and asked, "What's the matter?"
Liu Bing opened his briefcase, took out the envelope, and showed it to Ouyang Xue. "These are company internal documents that Ding Yuanying personally handed to me. These documents can serve as new evidence to overturn the original verdict. Xiao Yawen and Zhao are about to sign the agreement; time is running out. I don't want to publicly reveal these documents or let them fall into Lusheng's hands. I have a few conditions. If you agree, nothing will happen."
Ouyang Xue's mind buzzed with shock. She murmured, "Are you blackmailing me?"
"Blackmail? When you so readily agreed to let us withdraw our shares, and just days after Xiao Yawen joined, the Earl Company offered 6.5 million to acquire Gelüshi, and Ding Yuanying knew the lawsuit's outcome but said nothing—what does all this indicate? You were never sincere," Liu Bing retorted.
Ouyang Xue was stunned, her throat constricted.
"I have three conditions," Liu Bing continued. "First, 20% of the company shares free of any investment debt. Second, I must be appointed general manager. Third, the company must provide me with a car worth over 250,000 yuan. I just want to live with some dignity, like you."
Ouyang Xue's voice turned hoarse, "They say music refines people, but after listening to so much music, this is what you've become? It seems it makes no difference whether you listen to it or not."
"Cut to the chase. Do you agree?" Liu Bing demanded.
"Xiao Yawen is the chairwoman and general manager. The company's matters are decided by her. If she seeks my opinion on this, I disagree. I don't remember any internal documents. If this is due to Brother Ding, I'll ask him directly," Ouyang Xue replied.
"Think about the consequences. Don't say I didn't give you a chance," Liu Bing warned.
Ouyang Xue coldly responded, "I used to run a wonton stall. I don't fall for this." With that, she turned and walked away, her eyes cold enough to shred any sense of dignity.
Liu Bing felt a stab of pain. Watching Ouyang Xue's departing figure, he muttered, "If you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust." He knew Ouyang Xue would seek out Ding Yuanying, but it was too late.
He forced himself to calmly light a cigarette but snuffed it out after one drag. His slightly trembling hands finally picked up the envelope, tore it open, and pulled out the documents.
Suddenly, he froze!
The envelope contained no internal documents, just pristine white copy paper, blindingly white. It felt like a blow to his head, leaving him dazed and empty, as if his strength had been drained. His heart seemed to stop, and his blood froze. Instinctively, he realized: it was over!
A voice echoed in his chest: Ding Yuanying, you lied. You lied!
After a moment, Liu Bing regained his senses. He wished it was all a nightmare, but the white paper on the table confirmed his worst fears. Staring blankly at the paper, he felt a mixture of exhaustion, fear, and despair seep from his bones.
He understood that breaking the seal had opened the gates of hell. His confidence and dreams were as fragile as a bubble. He was now useless to both Lusheng and Gelüshi, despised by everyone around him.
A waitress noticed his pale face and asked, "Sir, are you alright?"
Liu Bing waved her away, "Leave me alone. I'm fine."
The waitress glanced curiously at the copy paper on the table and then walked away cautiously.
Liu Bing, dazed, packed the white paper back into the envelope and briefcase, then walked towards the stairs. He climbed to the 6th floor and stood by a window, opening it to look at the night sky.
The autumn night sky was full of stars, but to Liu Bing, they all seemed like cold, contemptuous eyes. He knew that jumping from here would end his suffering—no more pain, loneliness, or shame. With a sorrowful smile, he threw the copy paper and the envelope into the air. The paper fluttered down like white butterflies.
Caught between strength and weakness, he was an unnecessary person.
Caught between morality and degradation, he was an unnecessary person.
The world was too big, big enough to tolerate evil, conspiracies, and tears...
The world was also too small, too small to hold a place for Liu Bing.
He climbed onto the window ledge, both a victor and a wronged child, and shouted into the night, "Ding Yuanying, you lied! You lied!" Then he jumped.
A dull thud echoed from the ground.
Next to the hotel fountain, Liu Bing lay on the cold cement, blood flowing from his mouth and head, quickly coagulating in the chilly autumn wind. The wind rustled his hair and lifted the fallen white paper. Somewhere, music faintly played, its notes torn apart by the wind, scattering through the night...