The cold pride in An Luo Wei's question, "Do you still need me to 'explain'?", was like an invisible slap, landing directly on Lu Beichen and the entire Board of Directors.
The entire conference room fell into absolute silence.
Lu Beichen looked at her. The small girl was standing there, her hands still stained with ink, but her aura... was like that of a Queen.
He realized... he was wrong.
He thought he was "forging" her. But he didn't need to forge her. He just needed... to untie her.
He slowly stood up. His eyes didn't leave her for a second.
"No need."
His voice was low, carrying a complex emotion that only the two of them understood.
He turned to the Board of Directors, his face had restored the coldness of a CEO.
"You all saw." He said. "This is the 'soul' of the Star Moon. This is what the Emperor God needs."
He glanced at Shareholder Liu, whose face was pale.
"Shareholder Liu. Do you have any comments on Assistant An's 'experience'?"
"I... I..." Shareholder Liu quickly stood up and bowed his head. "No! Absolutely not! President Lu is wise! Madam Lu... no, Assistant An... is truly a genius! My eyes are like snails!"
Lu Beichen nodded. "Good. The project will be implemented according to this new design. Assistant An will have full authority to decide."
He looked at An Luowei. "The meeting is over. Assistant An, you stay."
He used the word "you" again.
But this time, it was not overbearing possessiveness, nor was it a slip of the tongue. It was... an admission.
The shareholders hurriedly 'flew' out of the meeting room. As they passed An Luo Wei, everyone bowed their heads, their eyes filled with respect and fear.
"Assistant An, you're so awesome!"
"We were wrong, Miss An..."
The heavy door closed.
It was just her and him.
"Do you have anything else?" An Luo Wei coldly put away her pens, she didn't even look at him. "I have to go back to Xiao Tao."
She had learned how to use Xiao Tao as a perfect "shield".
"Vi Vi..."
He called out her previous life's name.
"Don't call me that." She interrupted, her voice sharp as a knife. "My name is An Luo Wei."
Lu Bei Chen paused. He walked towards her, not with an oppressive aura, but... tired.
"Why did you tear up the old logo?" He asked. "The moon holding a flower petal... it..."
"Because it's ugly." An Luo Wei replied without hesitation. "That idea is 'imprisonment'. I don't like it."
The words "I don't like it" hit Lu Beichen's chest.
She was saying... she didn't like his confinement.
He looked at her, the woman who was gentle as water in her previous life, now sharp as ice.
He took a deep breath.
And then, he did something that Beichen Dijun had never done, and Lu Beichen had never done either.
"An Luowei." He said, his voice hoarse. "Today's matter... the 'stealing' slander..."
"I... apologize."
An Dijun... was bowing his head.
A CEO... was admitting his mistake.
An Luowei was stunned. She turned around. She thought she had misheard.
He... apologized?
But the shock was quickly replaced by sarcasm.
"Sorry?" She sneered. "Are you sorry for knowing that I was wronged, but still throwing me to those old foxes to 'test'? Or are you sorry... for 'exiling' my benefactor, Co Minh Triet?"
Every word she said was a knife.
Luc Bac Than clenched his fist. He lost.
"He..." He said, his voice difficult. "I will send someone... to send him back."
Another concession!
He was backing down.
An Lac Vi looked at him. She had won. She had used her talent to force him to back down.
But... she didn't feel happy.
Her heart... was empty.
"No need." She said coldly. "I don't care. Who you want to exile, who you want to promote, that's your business."
"I only care about Tinh Nguyet. And Tieu Dao. That's it."
She picked up her bag, walked past him, and headed towards the door.
"Stop!" He called out suddenly.
She stopped, but didn't turn around.
"The painting…" His voice trembled. "The scene of the dewdrop reflecting the moon and the flower petals… 'Tinh Hoa Lo'…"
"You… remembered that memory, right?"
He was pleading. Begging for a little hope. Begging her to admit… she still remembered their happy memories.
An Lac Vi stood still, her back still turned to him.
Her shoulders trembled.
She remembered. She remembered very clearly. She remembered that dewdrop, and he also remembered the gentle smile he had when he held it.
But…
She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Her voice was cold as ice.
"I only drew… a dewdrop."
She was lying.
She was punishing him.
She remembered happiness, but she refused to admit it. She would only use her hatred (for betrayal) to protect herself.
She opened the door and walked out, leaving Luc Bac Than standing alone in the cold conference room.
He slowly sat down on the chair, burying his face in his palms.
He had helped her remember...
And she... was using those very memories... to kill him.
The chase... was now reversed.
He was no longer a tyrant.
He... was the one begging.