Lin Ruoxi's words seed to make his long-buried past and too many thoughts he dared not touch rapidly fernt and swell.
"Shut up! Shut up! How many tis do I have to tell you, it's not what you think!"
Yang Chen's head felt like it was exploding. The long-forgotten pain caused his nerves to plunge into a frenzy, with his temples starting to throb!
Yang Chen didn't know why he was angry or why he was uncontrollably shouting at Lin Ruoxi. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help it!
Lin Ruoxi's gaze turned cold and clear, as if she saw everything, understanding it thoroughly. "Don't lie to yourself, Yang Chen. Deep down, you know very well that you can never separate from Seventeen. The reason you think I'm different from her is just an excuse to convince yourself, to numb yourself. You don't want to be a weakling in love; you don't want to be trapped in that shadow. You're trying to convince yourself that you're reborn and not a pathetic wretch who sank into depression because of Seventeen's departure. To you, I am an excuse to cover up your own guilt. You're deceiving yourself. In fact, everything between us started with Seventeen."
Lin Ruoxi's words were like icy rain, falling into Yang Chen's ears and freezing his body.
"If it's really like you said, that you can separate from Seventeen, then why isn't Rose, who knew you long before, your wife? Don't you love her? Just because she's in the mafia? Would you care? If you wanted, would she refuse? And Jingjing, who went to the States, don't you see her feelings for you? They've been around you for a long ti. They are better and more suitable to be your wife than I am. Unlike , who doesn't understand emotions, only knows work, mocks and despises you, cold and indifferent, not even letting you into my room, yet you insist on making your wife. After saying so much, it's all very clear, isn't it? You've never wanted to let go of Seventeen. You've always been by my side because of her."
Leaning weakly against the railing, Yang Chen's face was pale, as if his soul had been drained, like he had gone through a prolonged and intense battle.
Yang Chen stared blankly at the riverbank in the distance, his eyes dim, muttering, "Ruoxi, stop... I'm begging you, please stop..."
Lin Ruoxi tilted her head back, wiping her eyes with her hand, and smiled gently with apology, "I'm sorry. I know saying this is cruel and cold-blooded. I know you've done a lot for , things I've seen and things you've done behind my back. But I couldn't hold back these words and doubts any longer. They've been festering in my heart like a slow-acting poison, corroding my insides. It hurts too.
Since Christine told about her, I've wanted to ask you several tis but never dared to. I was afraid of the consequences, afraid I couldn't bear them. But fortunately, I'm stronger than I thought, and I believe you won't be defeated by these words either.
Maybe it's because of being abroad, without so much work to distract , without family around, I've had more ti to overthink. Today, everything that happened, all the small reasons ca together, and since you asked to, I said what I've been holding back. I won't talk to you like this again."
Yang Chen remained silent, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Lin Ruoxi bit her lip and said, "The press conference is about to start, and I need to go back to my seat. If you don't want to attend, it's okay. I know you're feeling down. And your friend ca to see you, probably for sothing important. Don't take my words too seriously; just think of them as venting. We often quarrel and have cold wars, don't we? This ti is no different. Life will still go on."
After finishing, Lin Ruoxi composed herself and calmly walked back to her seat.
As Sauron passed by, he nodded respectfully, and Lin Ruoxi smiled politely in return. Everyone present saw Lin Ruoxi return to her seat, whispering among themselves about what had happened since it was clear that Lin Ruoxi had been crying.
Stern and Alice, the siblings, were much quieter, looking at Lin Ruoxi with a few worried glances but saying nothing. Lin Ruoxi didn't pay much attention to the discussions and gazes around her. She quickly entered work mode, picking up the docunts and reading them carefully.
At this mont, the previously runaway organizer approached Lin Ruoxi again with a fawning smile, asking humbly, "Miss Lin, may we start the press conference now?"
Lin Ruoxi was puzzled, "Why ask ? This shouldn't be for to decide."
The organizer chuckled, "If you are not ready, we can wait for you. Also, Mr. Yang hasn't returned to his seat. Should we wait for him to co back before starting?" As he spoke, he glanced respectfully at Yang Chen, who was still standing by the riverside.
Lin Ruoxi realized the situation and found it sowhat amusing. Everyone present was afraid of Yang Chen's mysterious identity and had handed over all decision-making power to Yang Chen and herself.
"You don't need to be so nervous. What happened earlier was a personal grudge and shouldn't affect the progress of Fashion Week," Lin Ruoxi advised.
The organizer imdiately nodded, indicating his understanding, "Miss Lin, you are truly magnanimous. At the luncheon later, we hope you will honor us with your presence. It's your first ti attending Fashion Week, and we must show our hospitality."
Lin Ruoxi casually responded, signaling them to start quickly. She had no interest in any luncheons or the like.
However, she couldn't help but glance at the figure standing by the river. Lin Ruoxi's feelings were complex and difficult to express in words.
At this mont, Yang Chen, who had been standing by the railing for a long ti, finally regained his composure.
Yang Chen raised his left hand and beckoned with his fingers.
Sauron, who had been standing behind him, understood and walked up to Yang Chen.
Yang Chen sighed and asked, "Sauron, let ask you a question. Answer honestly."
Sauron's scarred face remained expressionless, "Lord Hades, I never lie."
"Good," Yang Chen said. "Tell , in your eyes, am I soone who deceives myself to cover up my own weakness?"
A glint of clarity flashed in Sauron's sowhat cloudy eyes. "Lord Hades, although I am your subordinate, speaking from an age perspective, your question is as immature as your age."
"Hmm?" Yang Chen couldn't help but smile, "The way you put it makes my question sound silly."
Sauron answered directly, "I believe that deception and honesty are just thods. As long as one acknowledges their true feelings, it is a sign of strength. True strength does not lie in one's inherent power but in the ability to face and solve problems in adversity."
Yang Chen squinted, thought for a mont, and then laughed self-deprecatingly, "It seems my question was indeed foolish. Whether I am weak or strong, as long as I face the problem, I can have a clear conscience."
Sauron said nothing, but there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Although not all his worries were gone, Yang Chen felt sowhat relieved and turned to ask Sauron, "Coming to a place like this to find must an there's more than just a visit. You saw that your appearance almost caused a scene."
Sauron's expression beca even more solemn as he nodded, "Indeed, there is an urgent matter. I believe you have heard of the 'International Special Organization eting' hosted by the French Directorate-General for External Security, to be held in Paris."
Yang Chen frowned, "Yes, I've heard of it. It's supposed to be aid at dealing with a terrorist organization called 'God's Domain,' led by 'Apollo.' I've actually had encounters with people from this organization. When I first ca to France, I was kidnapped by one of its affiliated groups."
"Exactly. I didn't expect you to have already made contact. But aside from visiting Lady Persephone, there's another urgent matter I want to tell you," Sauron said.
"What, don't tell you already know if this Apollo is real or not," Yang Chen laughed.
Sauron shook his head, "Whether Apollo is real or not doesn't concern us, nor is it sothing we can determine. What I want to inform you about, Lord Hades, is that the eting tomorrow night will discuss not only how to locate and eliminate Apollo and the God's Domain, but also another matter closely related to you. It's about the contention for the ownership of a 'divine artifact.'"
"A divine artifact?" Yang Chen was montarily stunned, then laughed heartily, "You wouldn't be talking about the one lost by the previous Hades, would you? That's not just any ordinary artifact. I recently fought Ares, and the power of the gods' artifacts is indeed astonishing. Ares' spear can freeze space; I'm sure the other gods' artifacts are equally formidable. If sothing like that really appeared, I would definitely sense it."
Sauron looked slightly surprised, seemingly unaware of Yang Chen's battle with Ares, but he didn't ask further and continued to explain, "That 'artifact' indeed isn't one possessed by the twelve Olympian gods, but its owner has a significant connection to you, Lord Hades."
"Stop beating around the bush, who is it, and what artifact?" Yang Chen asked helplessly.
"It's the weapon of 'Thanatos,' the God of Death – the Sword of Death," Sauron replied.
Thanatos, the God of Death?
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