"Don't apologize. All of this was Xuanyuan Cuihua's conspiracy. It has nothing to do with you staying a few extra days," Murong Youcai interrupted. "And if an employee loves my company so much she can't bear to leave, should I really be angry about that?"
His voice was gentle when he said this—no CEO persona at all.
But I really liked that.
---
After I worked diligently at the #2 Company for a while, my "wherever I go, the company goes under" superpower finally activated.
A major scandal broke without warning—devastating revelation after revelation, each more horrifying than the last.
When the revelations reached the part about employee abuse, many people realized this was exactly like the previous rumors about the #1 Company.
But those earlier rumors about the #1 Company had only ever been text—no matter how detailed, there was no evidence to back them up. This time, the #2 Company's abuses had mountains of testimony and proof—solid, incriminating evidence.
So Murong Youcai had been framed all along! It was Xuanyuan Cuihua who'd been the real villain!
I happily watched the story dominate every platform for days.
Everyone was saying: We will never buy bento from this kind of black-hearted company!
Plus their bento was disgusting anyway. Ptooey!
---
After that, everything turned around.
Xuanyuan Cuihua's conspiracy was exposed, the Xuanyuan Corporation's reputation crumbled, and their terrible bento stopped selling.
Meanwhile, the Murong Corporation's reputation rebounded, their delicious bento sales climbed, and the #1 Bento Company miraculously rose from the dead.
When the #2 Company officially collapsed, Murong Youcai took back control, returned to his CEO position, and resumed his place at the top.
I was happy for him, and I had zero sympathy for Xuanyuan Cuihua.
She'd used me as a tool to take down Murong Youcai from the start.
But I'd gotten careless, thinking the situation was settled, and didn't notice when Xuanyuan Cuihua—in a fit of rage over losing everything—had me kidnapped and taken to a landfill outside the city.
Even with her company bankrupt, she still had enough wealth to easily deal with a nobody like me.
But her real target wasn't just me—she wanted to lure Murong Youcai.
And that idiot actually came when called, all by himself, no bodyguards!
Well, I suppose this track with the story. I was dangling over a giant garbage pit, swaying, about to fall to my death, and I still had the presence of mind to console myself. Domineering CEOs always love playing the lone hero.
Even if it meant my hostage safety was completely unsecured.
At least he stayed in character.
---
But I'd underestimated Xuanyuan Cuihua's madness. Her goal wasn't to save her company or to force Murong Youcai to marry her.
She just gritted her teeth and threatened: "Murong Youcai, I'm going to make you watch this woman die in front of you!"
Hey—Xuanyuan Cuihua, why am I your revenge prop again? Just say you're mad I destroyed your company—at least I'd feel slightly more useful!
But the completely deranged woman didn't care about my inner monologue. She decisively cut my rope, sending me tumbling headfirst toward the pit bottom.
I was probably going to land face-first.
I closed my eyes, thinking the universe really had it in for me—even my death was going to be undignified.
But the expected impact didn't come. Murong Youcai had jumped in after me, caught me, and we rolled together across the pit floor before coming to a stop.
I was filthy but alive—at least for now.
But "now" was very brief. Within minutes, Xuanyuan Cuihua, standing above us, made a new decision: "Murong Youcai, since you're willing to risk your life for her, then you can both die!"
Ugh! I spat mud out of my mouth, inwardly despairing.
Cuihua, could you maybe chill out for just one second?
---
She was done chilling forever.
She hopped into a bulldozer, operated the machinery with practiced ease, and began shoving mountains of expired bento from the #2 Company—too terrible to sell—toward our pit: "You two seemed to like sneaking into my company to taste bento so much—enjoy being buried in it forever! Mwahahaha!"
I didn't even have the energy to make fun of the situation.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I, a dedicated bento taste-tester my entire career, would die by being buried alive in terrible bento.
Universe, you really are determined to kill me in the most ridiculous way possible.
And poor Murong Youcai—a whole CEO, buried in bento in an unescapable pit with me. It was simultaneously tragic and hilarious.
But Murong Youcai wasn't panicking. He shielded my head from the falling debris, and in the roar of the approaching bulldozer, he calmly asked: "There's something I've been wanting to ask you."
I looked up at him, confused: "Hmm?"
He met my gaze honestly: "At first, I only thought you were a poor, tasteless taste-tester who might be scheming to extort the company. I'm sorry I misjudged you—you're a good person who works hard at living. But I still couldn't figure out why, when I ran away from my wedding, you took me in without holding a grudge, and then kept helping me afterward?"
"Because..." I hesitated, dozens of reasons swirling at the tip of my tongue.
Like wanting to do the right thing and help someone in need. Like being upset that Xuanyuan Cuihua had set me up. Like wanting to clear up the misunderstanding since I'd already agreed to settle with the company.
Every reason was logical and easy to say.
But I didn't say any of them.
Because I heard my own heart screaming: No—none of those are the real reason.
In the swirling dust, I looked at the bento avalanche about to crash down on us, then turned back to Murong Youcai's face, and suddenly felt at peace.
Whatever—we're about to die anyway. What's the point of lying?
"Because I've liked you for a really long time..." The bulldozer was so loud I had to shout, and halfway through I saw his eyes suddenly light up, "...YOUR COMPANY'S BENTO!"
He froze.
And I kept shouting, telling him how years ago, when I was at my lowest—starving, broke, barely able to stand—some kind young man doing entry-level work at a bento shop had appeared and handed me a hot meal, smiling and saying:
"The bento we make with care is meant to make everyone who eats it feel happy."
"Thank you!" As the bento avalanche came down, tears streamed down my face—probably from the dust—but I was smiling at him. "That bento was delicious. It made me happy!"
---
Thank heavens, neither of us died. We were still very much alive and kicking.
Because at the critical moment, Murong Youcai pulled me close, shielded me with his body, stood tall amid the flying debris, and with his domineering aura fully activated, declared:
"All you garbage—disappear from my sight in one second!"
The next moment, a brilliant light erupted from the pit, dazzling beams shooting up into the clouds!
When the dust settled, every last bento had vanished.
In that moment, I understood—with Murong Youcai, this was a genuine domineering CEO.
And when a genuine CEO acts, the whole world steps aside for him.
---
After everything was settled and Xuanyuan Cuihua received her comeuppance, Murong Youcai came to find me.
We sat on the rooftop of my old building, eating popsicles together.
He asked what I planned to do next. I said I wasn't sure—I wanted to try new things first.
He nodded: "Try whatever you want. If it doesn't work out, I'll support you."
My popsicle nearly dropped: "What did you say?"
"You took me in before—now it's my turn to return the favor," he said, pulling something out and handing it to me. "This is my gift in return."
It was a coupon—personally signed by the domineering CEO—for lifetime free bento from all "#1 in the Universe" Company products.
Oh—I got it now. With this coupon, I'd never have to worry about food for the rest of my life.
I stared at the coupon for a long time, then burst out laughing. Murong Youcai laughed too, casual and easy, no icy aura at all.
But I liked him like this.
And he probably felt the same about me.
Mid-laugh, I stopped and told Murong Youcai I'd had a new idea.
My "wherever I go, companies go bankrupt" curse—I didn't want to use it to hurt innocent people, but maybe I could use it to punish the wicked.
"There are always dark corners the light can't reach. Maybe I can go do some good, help people who need it."
I looked at Murong Youcai and flashed a devilish smile, using the classic CEO line I'd learned from him to wrap up this adventure:
"Autumn's here, winter's coming—it's time for some black-hearted companies to go bankrupt!"
END