The Vanishing Beauty - Chapter 8 - 6

Chapter 8 - 6

Ye Cha drove while Yu Rui helped a young woman settle into the back seat.

They had received a sudden special assignment, reporting directly to President Han. Ye Cha had already warned her that absolute confidentiality was required. Han Guang rarely gave such specific injunctions; since he had spoken, it meant the matter was of profound significance and not a single whisper of it could leak out.

At first, Yu Rui did not understand why she had specifically been asked to come along. But upon seeing this young woman and noticing her slightly protruding lower abdomen, Yu Rui experienced a sudden flash of insight. It dawned on her that the "Han Guang" she had understood in the past was likely only an extremely minute facet of the man himself—merely the tip of the iceberg visible above the water.

The girl was pregnant, and Han Guang had instructed Ye Cha and Yu Rui to take her to get an abortion. As for the relationship between the girl and Han Guang, no one dared to ask, leaving them to fill in the blanks on their own.

Yu Rui observed the girl out of the corner of her eye.

She was not pretty, but she was young, physically robust, and full of vitality. Compared to a meticulously sculpted girl like Yu Rui, this young woman possessed far more vigor, along with a more rustic, unadorned naturalness. On the way to the hospital, she was still eating a bar of chocolate to keep her strength up.

It was as though she were about to march straight onto a battlefield.

Yu Rui recalled her own painful experience. Even though her child had not yet formed, scraping away a fetus felt precisely like plucking an unripe fruit straight from the branch—the tree trunk was bound to suffer damage.

Such a sin.

Ye Cha glanced at Yu Rui through the rearview mirror. Yu Rui met his gaze, and the two of them essentially exchanged a tacit look of mutual understanding. Yu Rui figured that the story Ye Cha had constructed in his mind must align perfectly with her own assumptions: Han Guang had knocked the girl up, the girl had come looking for him, and since he didn't want the child, he was handling the situation decisively. A sum of money would undoubtedly follow afterward to compensate her.

What Yu Rui found baffling was that this young woman did not cry or make a fuss; she remained completely calm throughout the entire process, and there even seemed to be a faint, vague trace of light joy on her face. Even the surgical procedure itself was handled mechanically, as though what was being excised from her body was nothing more than a superfluous tumor—hardly worthy of pity.

While Ye Cha went to handle the paperwork, Yu Rui stood in the hallway of the private hospital with her arms crossed over her chest. Both of them were playing the roles of "family members of the patient": Ye Cha acted as the girl's "fiancée," while Yu Rui played her "sister." Ye Cha walked over, came to a halt, and exchanged a glance with Yu Rui, both of them nodding in unison. Their expressions seemed to convey the shared sentiment of, "This is just how the wealthy operate."

Vicious, corrupt capital could make a mother entirely indifferent to her own child. Occasionally, both Rui and Cha found themselves smiling bitterly. A few days later, true to form, Han Guang handed the girl a sum of money, arranging for Ye Cha to deliver the payment. Upon learning of this, Yu Rui felt even more strongly that Han Guang carried a mountain of sins on his shoulders. Previously, she had viewed Han Guang's image as glorious—especially after conducting the biographical interview, where she learned of the hardships he had endured and the difficult roads he had walked before finally achieving greatness. She had both admired and pitied him. But now? He was nothing more than a wicked capitalist who toyed with women!

Yu Rui carried a stack of books into Han Guang's office, all of them needing his signature. Following its publication, the biography had unexpectedly become a "bestseller" within a small circle. Numerous bosses, industry peers, and subordinates came forward to show their support. The print run had already been expanded once, yet people kept arriving to ask for copies. Signing them had become a regular chore, though fortunately Han Guang never seemed to tire of it.

After affixing his large signature and snapping the book cover shut, it was the final copy. Only then did Han Guang raise his head, noticing that Yu Rui's eyes seemed capable of shooting out flying needles.

"Got an issue with me?" He spoke with a remarkably relaxed tongue, wearing a completely nonchalant expression. Yu Rui murmured a quiet negative. Han Guang rose to his feet, closed the door tightly, walked back, and rested his hips against the edge of the desk, pointing an index finger at her from afar. "In your mind, I'm a demon right now."

At a complete loss, Yu Rui could only step forward to gather the books. Han Guang continued with a teasing edge, "You must think I knocked someone up and refused to take responsibility."

How brutally direct.

Her scalp tingling, Yu Rui stood with her back turned to him, remaining silent as before.

Han Guang stated, "You're my assistant. Between you and me, there should be absolute trust. I need to know whether you are truly loyal to me."

Yu Rui replied instantly, "I will keep it confidential."

Han Guang let out a hearty laugh, waved his hand, and motioned for her to leave.

Later on, Ye Cha and Yu Rui had a brief exchange—a secret that belonged strictly to the two of them. Ye Cha seemed to have lost interest in the matter altogether. Perhaps in his view, whether the boss wanted a child, discarded a child, or happened to have a child was hardly a matter of earth-shattering importance. The wind power project at hand, however, was proving to be rather tricky. When Yu Rui asked what made it tricky, Ye Cha explained simply that it was a guaranteed profitable venture, but acquiring the official approval was notoriously difficult; one had to pull strings and forge connections. Moreover, the company's real estate project in Chongqing was currently facing a lawsuit, placing them in a very passive position that threatened not only financial losses but a heavy blow to their public image. Since the wind power project carried public welfare components, it presented an ideal opportunity to reshape their social standing.

Business matters left Yu Rui feeling dizzy; her mind kept drifting back to that young girl. She felt certain there had to be more to the story. Han Guang had only one daughter. If it had truly been his child, he likely wouldn't have forced the woman to undergo an abortion—raising it himself wouldn't have been a big deal. Or perhaps there was something wrong with the child? That possibility couldn't be ruled out. Alternatively, could it be that the child wasn't his at all, and he was simply helping manage the fallout?

That probability seemed rather small.

A few days later, Yu Meng requested a meeting with Yu Rui. It was urgent, leaving Yu Rui no choice but to carve out time to see her. In Yu Meng's office, Yu Rui received a "task"—which amounted to a desperate plea from Yu Meng. Hearing the words leave Yu Meng's lips caused Yu Rui's heart to skip a beat: she was being asked to approach Zu Liangcai for a favor and secure an official approval stamp!

Wasn't this sheer fantasy!

Had Yu Meng found out? Had she uncovered the past history between her and Liangcai? No, only heaven and earth knew about that; how could she possibly find out? Liangcai had already severed all contact with Yu Meng. Forcing herself to maintain a calm composure, Yu Rui offered a faint smile and said, "I can't do it."

Yu Meng walked over to sit beside her, grasping her hand. "You're the only one who can. Don't you remember? Back during the car accident, he was the one you delivered messages for."

So that was it.

Her heart settled back into place; her secret had not been exposed after all.

She was merely being used as a buffer.

Yu Meng proceeded to meticulously dissect the project, laying out the pros and cons with crystal clarity. She told her that this was the absolute finest opportunity for them to elevate themselves. "Do you honestly want to end up like Sister Jia, running a fast-food restaurant, sweating over hard labor, and still running the risk of losing money? Rui, to be completely honest with you, out of all our sisters, I value you the most. You're sensible, you've got ambition, and most importantly, we are cut from the same cloth. After enduring so many hurdles all these years, I've finally figured it out: depending on a man is nowhere near as reliable as depending on yourself. We can stand on the shoulders of men to achieve greatness for ourselves. Love or no love, to hell with all that bullshit!"

Shocked, Yu Rui realized that even Sister Meng had lost faith in love. Did true love even exist in this world anymore? And what good was love anyway?

She felt thoroughly bewildered.

Yu Meng concluded by saying, "Rui, you're helping me, but you're also helping the company. However, don't mention this to Old Han; treat this as a private arrangement between us sisters. If you can pull this off, I'll give you a stake in the business. If it's too awkward for you to hold, you can transfer it over to Xiao Xi instead."

Sisi was returning to Britain, and a group of people turned up to see her off. Luan Chengyun also made an appearance at Yu Jia's small eatery. Shuang was too busy to attend, so she called to bid her farewell over the phone. When Yu Rui arrived and saw at a glance that Yuankai was present as well, she turned right back around and left. Because of her younger sister, she had no desire to encounter Yuankai at the moment. Every single action taken by Bai Yuankai felt pointed to her, like a deliberate form of flattery directed at Sister Jia—perhaps unconsciously so, but that only made it all the more infuriating. Yu Rui refused to reconcile herself to the fact that both she and her sister had lost out to Yu Jia. Yet matters of the heart were impossible to rationalize; even Princess Diana could lose to Camilla. Fortunately, Camilla and the Prince were currently experiencing their own marital strife.

Yu Rui remained firmly convinced that such a relationship could never last. After sharing a hasty meal of fast food—since Bai Yuankai had a meeting to attend, he arranged for a driver to take Sisi to the airport—Yu Jia, swamped with work, embraced her daughter in a final farewell. Luan Chengyun remained rooted to his seat, leading Yu Jia to guess that he likely had something on his mind. Once the rush of takeout orders subsided, she finally sat down directly across from him.

"Spit it out." Yu Jia had grown wonderfully brisk and straightforward lately, driven to it by the demands of her business.

"Find an opportunity to talk some sense into Yu Meng."

"What is it this time?"

"That wind power project—she cannot touch it." Luan Chengyun's tone carried a hint of genuine anxiety. Yu Jia shifted a tiny pepper shaker on the table a few inches to the side and advised, "Old Luan, you should stay out of her affairs. Whether she wins or loses, she can handle the fallout. She's not a child anymore; I've watched her change a lot—she's far better at business than you are." Pausing for a second, she added, "Weren't you planning to get married? When are you hosting the banquet?"

"It's off," Luan Chengyun answered flatly.

"And her?"

"We broke up."

"This isn't a game."

"Precisely because it isn't a game, we had to be cautious."

"Don't wait around. Seriously. She's changed, and you've changed too," Yu Jia said, speaking from the heart.

Luan Chengyun replied, "I haven't changed, and neither has she."

"So what if you haven't? The times have changed. Take Old Di and me, for instance—did I change? Did he change? A leopard never changes its spots, but the environment has shifted, and the tests life throws at us have changed. You are forced to change right along with them." Mentioning Old Di caused a sharp twinge in Yu Jia's chest.

She still harbored resentment toward him.

For a brief moment, both Luan Chengyun and Yu Jia were enveloped in an inexplicable sense of loss. Sitting in silence across from one another for a short while, Luan Chengyun stood up and prepared to leave, while Yu Jia returned to managing her shop.

Before making up her mind to seek out Zu Liangcai, Huang Qi returned to the city and requested a meeting. Yu Rui gave him her address, and Huang Qi came straight to the company to find her. Upon arriving at the location, Huang Qi was dumbfounded; he never imagined Yu Rui could have climbed so high in such a place, even landing the role of chief assistant. The group had investments in the entertainment industry as well, though they produced relatively few projects each year. Yu Rui had long since abandoned any thoughts of acting and had never considered moving in that direction, but the moment Huang Qi arrived, he naturally followed the trail of breadcrumbs, hoping Yu Rui could help put in a good word for him.

A production was currently casting roles. If Han Guang gave even a single word, securing a major supporting role—let alone the lead—was practically guaranteed, while a third or fourth-tier part was a surefire lock.

Yu Rui found herself in an impossible dilemma.

She despised asking favors of others most of all, yet here they were converging all at once: Yu Meng wanted her to beg Liangcai, while Huang Qi was asking her to implore Han Guang.

When Yu Rui attempted to refuse, Huang Qi immediately dropped his pride. "Xiaori, times are different now, we can't afford to wait. I need to take this next step up. If you don't help me, who will?" Anyone else might have given a blunt retort on the spot: You taking a step up, what does that have to do with me? How does it benefit me?

Yet facing Huang Qi, Yu Rui found herself utterly incapable of uttering such words.

She understood the grinding hardship of being an actor; she knew the grueling path of Huang Qi's struggle, alongside his persistence and stubborn dedication. At times, she felt that having someone like Huang Qi around wasn't a bad thing—he was still fighting, as though he weren't merely battling for himself, but carrying the dreams of all twenty-six classmates on his shoulders. Furthermore, Yu Rui couldn't bear to abandon these lingering remnants of her "past." Old friends were a non-renewable resource; she cherished the pure, simple days when she and Huang Qi had first come to the big city to chase their dreams.

That evening, she arranged for them to have dinner together and invited Yu Xi along as well. Huang Qi's arrival presented a rare opportunity. Ever since Yu Xi had moved out of her sister's place to officially begin an independent life, Yu Rui had the lingering sense that she was still harboring resentment—anger directed straight at her. At the root of it all lay their so-called "clashing worldviews."

Huang Qi insisted on drinking, and Yu Xi kept him company. Both of them were filled with deep sighs of emotion, and as the alcohol flowed, they even began reminiscing about the shape of their youth—even though Yu Xi was still right in the middle of it. Yu Rui alone maintained her sobriety. She rarely drank nowadays; she had gotten her fill of it in the past. Nor could she wax poetic about youth or indulge in nostalgia the way Xi and Qi did. With a mountain of pressing matters still resting squarely on her shoulders, her only choice was to live firmly in the present.

Right there during the dinner, with Huang Qi sitting across from her, Yu Rui placed a call to Han Guang on speakerphone. She mentioned that she had a friend with exceptional qualifications who was looking to break into acting, and asked if there might be a chance to arrange an introduction. Han Guang instructed her to forward the actor's resume over. Overjoyed, Huang Qi looked as though he might lean across the table and plant a kiss on Yu Rui. Yu Xi merely offered a detached, faint smile, remarking that her sister always seemed to have a way of getting things done. Yu Rui pretended not to hear. She understood now that certain favors had to be handled out in the open—such as Huang Qi's request—while others could only be executed strictly in the shadows, like the task assigned by Yu Meng.