NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30 - Scumbag at the Crematorium (3)
He Dongchen slightly frowned, his expression displeased.
Gu Huan immediately noticed it. Following his gaze, she saw a beautiful woman. Her smile remained unchanged, but the warmth in her eyes diminished a bit.
Under their watchful eyes, the woman in the red dress strutted through the restaurant like she was on a runway. She swayed gracefully as she approached and then familiarly sat down next to He Dongchen, ignoring Gu Huan completely.
“Dongchen, why didn’t you come to the welcome dinner last night? Are you not happy to see me back?” Hua Ning pouted, her tone intimate, like a girlfriend playfully teasing her boyfriend. Her right hand hovered, ready to make a move based on his reaction.
He Dongchen shifted away slightly, his tone cold. “I don’t think anyone would welcome someone who kicks them when they’re down.”
Indeed, this Hua Ning was the original owner’s first love, ex-girlfriend. When the original owner hit rock bottom, she had decisively broken up with him and left the country. Now she was eagerly trying to reconnect, acting as if nothing had happened. Her shamelessness was truly remarkable.
In the original plot, Hua Ning played the role of the vicious supporting actress. She discovered that the original owner couldn’t forget his ex-wife, Xiao Tang, and caused all sorts of trouble. She openly made things difficult but secretly helped push Xiao Tang and the younger brother together!
The original owner, always busy with work, often arrived late to find Xiao Tang embracing his younger brother, feeling utterly overshadowed.
He Dongchen didn’t want anything to do with Hua Ning. He immediately distanced himself and made his stance clear to Gu Huan.
Gu Huan smiled silently, serving as a silent backdrop. In her world, catfighting with other women was beneath her. She would only direct her anger towards the man who was the root of the problem. If he couldn’t handle the situation, she would simply find someone else who could.
Fortunately, she was satisfied with He Dongchen’s current reaction.
Hua Ning, feeling humiliated, secretly gritted her teeth and spoke in a dejected tone, “What happened back then was my fault, but my father said that if I stayed with you, he would take action against you…”
Hua Ning forced herself into the persona of a tragic lover, claiming she had been coerced by her family to break up.
He Dongchen played along, responding earnestly, “I understand. Your father not only forced you to leave but also made you date immediately, switching partners three times a year, with countless backups. It was all your father’s doing. I totally get it…”
“Pfft.” Gu Huan raised her hand to cover her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly. She hadn’t expected He Dongchen to be so cheeky, making up nonsense with a straight face.
Hua Ning’s face twisted with rage. She clutched the tablecloth, her smile turning grim. “Yes, my father is very pragmatic. He even tried to make me marry an old man. Dongchen, you have to help me.”
She then forced a pitiful expression.
He Dongchen was almost defeated by her shamelessness. To endure such blatant sarcasm and still persist was truly admirable!
Perhaps sensing an opportunity from He Dongchen’s silence, Hua Ning felt a surge of joy. Under the table, she shifted her leg slightly to the right, lightly brushing it against his, her eyes full of seduction.
He Dongchen showed no reaction, but across the table, Gu Huan’s face darkened. She spoke with disgust, “Miss, your leg is touching mine!”
As soon as she spoke, He Dongchen was puzzled, while Hua Ning’s face flushed bright red. She resisted the urge to look under the table, grabbed her bag, and fled in embarrassment without a word of goodbye.
He Dongchen, realizing what had happened, laughed softly at first, then louder.
Gu Huan glared at him, annoyed. “Stop laughing! This is your problem with women!”
She stood up to go to the restroom, grateful she wore long pants; otherwise, it would have been even more disgusting.
He Dongchen quickly restrained his laughter, though the amusement was still evident in his dark, narrow eyes.
The system floated nearby, thoughtfully replaying the scene under the table. It showed Hua Ning’s nylon-clad leg brushing against Gu Huan’s white trousers.
[Ha ha ha, Boss, that evil supporting female character looked so stupid just now.]
He Dongchen raised his hand to dismiss the screen that only he could see and pointed at a delicately plated dish on the table. In his mind, he said, [Look, you laugh just like it did when it was alive.]
The system looked at the plate of foie gras and silently closed its mouth.
***
Ten minutes later, Gu Huan returned, and both tacitly moved past the previous topic. Talking about an ex-girlfriend was a delicate matter; speaking well of her would make the other jealous, and speaking ill would seem ungentlemanly. The best approach was to avoid discussing it altogether, just clearly showing one’s current stance.
After lunch, they both had to return to work, so they parted ways at the restaurant entrance.
Back at the company, He Dongchen took a brief nap and then continued his work as the domineering CEO.
In the evening, he received a call from the original owner’s younger brother, He Guanyun.
Unlike the hardworking original owner, He Guanyun had a laid-back personality and loved music. As the youngest child, he didn’t need to shoulder any responsibilities and could freely pursue his passions.
While the original owner was attending various training classes, He Guanyun was passionately composing music with his guitar. When the original owner was bearing the weight of the company, He Guanyun went abroad to unwind due to family upheavals. When the original owner was struggling to support the company, He Guanyun returned to the country and, under the original owner’s protection, entered the entertainment industry to become a beloved musical prince.
Before Xiao Tang’s arrival, He Guanyun had fallen in love and married someone he met while abroad. After Xiao Tang’s arrival, He Guanyun sympathized with his sister-in-law, who loved but couldn’t be with his brother. He helped her multiple times, and his sympathy gradually turned into affection.
Eventually, they ended up in bed together, and afterward, he even had the audacity to tell the original owner, ‘You can’t make Xiao Tang happy, so I will!’
For a younger brother to hook up with his sister-in-law and be so brazen about it was truly outrageous.
The original owner had worked diligently his entire life, but after death, he awakened and grew increasingly furious, realizing that this foolish brother wasn’t worth it!
This led to the second task; Refusing to be a doormat for his brother.
Returning to the current situation, He Dongchen answered the phone, and immediately, He Guanyun’s cheerful voice came through, “Big Brother, I’m back in the country, and I’ve brought a friend with me. Make sure to come home tonight to welcome us. No excuses for being late!”
Recently, after their mother’s death, He Guanyun had returned for a while but then went abroad again to unwind. This time, the friend he brought back was likely the original designated girlfriend, Si Manman.
Si Manman, as the original female lead, came from an ordinary family background but possessed exceptional talent. She started as a child star, honed her acting skills, and studied abroad for several years. Now returning, she was poised to re-enter the entertainment industry and was expected to be highly popular. Normally, as the female lead, her character should have been acceptable, but after Xiao Tang took over, Si Manman twisted into reprisal, walking the tried and true path of the malicious supporting female character.
He Dongchen replied indifferently, “I have a dinner appointment tonight. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
With that, he directly hung up the phone.
In the previous life, upon hearing his brother was bringing a friend back to the country, the original owner canceled his dinner appointment and arranged a feast at home, preparing a variety of delicacies. However, that foolish brother, He Guanyun, upon landing, saw a breathtaking sunset somewhere and immediately decided to take Si Manman to watch it for an hour, completely disregarding his elder brother at home.
He Guanyun was just a carefree little brat, even though the brothers were only 2 years apart; one bearing burdens while the other lived carefree.
He Dongchen wasn’t going to indulge him.
Let him eat dirt.
***
After work, He Dongchen attended the dinner with his two assistants, engaging in business pleasantries and sealing a long-debated cooperation project on the spot. After the event, He Dongchen quickly sobered up, waved to his assistants to go their separate ways, and then got into his own car.
As the car started, he caught sight of a familiar figure on the roadside, barefoot and angrily holding high heels, muttering to herself.
The driver whispered, “Isn’t that Miss Xiao? Does she need help?”
He Dongchen shifted his gaze away, tossed aside the half-drunk bottle of mineral water with a clatter.
The driver couldn’t help but shiver.
He Dongchen spoke indifferently, “Drive.”
The driver immediately stepped on the gas, thinking about the dismissed Assistant Wang, feeling a bit scared, silently cursing himself for meddling!
He Dongchen closed his eyes to rest.
The system jumped onto the driver’s wig to complain, [Everyone around the original owner is brain-dead. Assistants, drivers, servants, all sympathizing with Xiao Tang, taking turns to support her.]
They never consider that Xiao Tang was practically forced onto him. Relying on his mother’s accident-induced paranoia, how else could a girl from an ordinary family, a mere nurse, become the wife of a CEO?
In those 3 years, the original owner was hardly ever home, yet Xiao Tang received every luxury; fine clothes, gourmet meals, high-end living. Just one of her bags cost tens of thousands, equivalent to several years of her original salary.
Clearly, he was the one who was barely getting by, who pursued this marriage, yet enjoyed a high-quality life while pretending to be pitiful and unattainable, making everyone around her feel sorry for her and painting the original owner as heartless and cold.
Even the transmigrated Xiao Tang thought the original owner was a scumbag, taking a hefty compensation and benefiting from his covert support, entangled and ended up with the younger brother after a few hesitations.
Was the original owner a scumbag? Not at all. He simply paid for peace of mind, considering Xiao Tang’s role in comforting his mother in her final moments, even providing a hefty compensation.
Furthermore, regardless of the reasons, once married, one should be loyal to the marriage, shoulder responsibilities, and live a good life. This was typical wishful thinking; talking big without standing in the shoes of others.
Who said married people must be absolutely faithful? Look at how many passionate love stories end in divorce or infidelity. Even marriages based on love can collapse midway, let alone those forced together.
The original owner didn’t mess around during the marriage period, adhering to basic principles was already enough.
Now that He Dongchen had arrived, pursuing his wife was impossible, forever impossible.
He watched coldly, wondering if Xiao Tang, without the extravagant compensation and covert support, could make any waves in the entertainment industry. Could this unchanged Xiao Tang still capture the heart of He Guanyun?
If they still ended up together, He Dongchen would show them what indifference and cold-heartedness truly meant.
***
Half an hour later, the car smoothly stopped at the villa gate. He Dongchen woke up on time, looking composed, and grabbed his coat as he got out of the car.
It was nearly 11 o’clock now, and the villa was pitch dark, save for a small light outside the main gate.
He Dongchen dismissed the driver and opened the door himself.
With a soft click, the security door unlocked. The living room lights came on shortly after. The maid sleeping on the ground floor hurried out, warmly greeting him, “Sir, you’re back. Would you like something to eat? There’s hot chicken soup in the kitchen. Shall I warm it up for you?”
“No need.” He Dongchen shook his head, casually asking, “Guanyun hasn’t come back?”
The maid replied, “No, he called to say he’s watching the sunset with his friend and not to worry about arranging anything.”
He Dongchen glanced at the maid who had been working at the He family for several years, self-mockingly noting; See, he even remembers too inform a maid, but the original owner? As the elder brother, he’s been completely forgotten.
Indeed, he was fearless and confident.