The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

He Dongchen’s prediction turned out to be correct; Nian Zhenzhen forgave Shang Nian and didn’t even wait a full day.

It turned out that Nian Zhenzhen had spent over ten hours on the rooftop, choosing a difficult-to-rescue corner. A large crowd of police, media, and onlookers gathered. Under the public’s watchful eyes, Shang Nian appeared and exchanged declarations of love with Nian Zhenzhen. Then, both of them lost their footing and fell from the seventh floor, landing on a rescue cushion.

Nian Zhenzhen was so moved that she immediately embraced Shang Nian and said she wouldn’t pursue any legal action.

This incident ended in reality, but the discussions online didn’t cease and even intensified. The details of Nian Zhenzhen and Shang Nian’s relationship were scrutinized thoroughly.

Some pointed out that Nian Zhenzhen had never been short of money 8 years ago. With her parents’ compensation of millions and a house, she was better off than many people. Over the years, Nian Zhenzhen had spent millions on gifts for Shang Nian, showing that their relationship wasn’t just a simple mistress arrangement. It was evident that Nian Zhenzhen had deep feelings for Shang Nian, loving him intensely, even willing to be a scorned mistress and forgive him immediately after a forced abortion. This woman was hopelessly in love.

Shang Nian’s behavior was even more despicable. He abused his wealth and power, saying one thing and doing another. On the rooftop, he claimed to love Nian Zhenzhen and promised that they would have children again, but he still did not annul the engagement. Was he planning to love Nian Zhenzhen and have children with her while marrying another woman?

Disgusting! A scumbag! His flowery words were all talk and no action.

A group of people stormed the Shang Corporation’s official website, cursing Shang Nian, and many others went to the Liu company’s website to vent their anger.

Liu Mengyu, who had been irritated by the comments that encouraged her to break off the engagement, was understandably upset. She liked Shang Nian, otherwise, she wouldn’t have done so many crazy things. To her, wealthy people were all like that; it was no big deal. As long as she handled the situation decisively and thoroughly, those insignificant people wouldn’t affect her.

Liu Mengyu planned to stick to her decision, but the Liu family had other ideas.

A marriage alliance was supposed to be a strong partnership. Although they had not given up on the Shang Corporation after the hacker incident, this new situation made the Liu family reconsider withdrawing.

With public opinion on their side, if handled properly, breaking off the engagement with Shang Corporation could not only avoid losses but also serve as a chance to rise even higher.

In this day and age, melodramatic love stories were out of fashion. Exposing and punishing scumbags was the new trend.

After considering the situation, the Liu family decided it was feasible and promptly sent Liu Mengyu abroad to announce the annulment of the engagement with Shang Corporation.

The news was met with widespread praise and satisfaction online!

***

Shang Corporation was thrown into chaos. Just at that moment, hacker H reappeared, infiltrating the largest popular game under Shang Corporation’s umbrella and repeatedly inserting the words “scumbag” into the game.

Players, who were enjoying the game and engaged in a final battle, suddenly found the game changed its tone. Instead of normal shooting sounds, every shot was accompanied by the phrase “scumbag, scumbag, scumbag,” which was so ridiculous it became a laughingstock. Such a silly hack.

If the previous black screen at the press conference only caused Shang Corporation’s new project to fail, this latest incident was a serious blow, causing significant damage.

The popular mobile game had a very high national profile, and almost every young person played it. It was easy to imagine the impact the incident had when it became public.

Hacker H had catapulted Shang Corporation to the peak of media attention, overshadowing even major celebrity weddings.

The next day, Shang Corporation’s stock plummeted, and they were forced to announce the dismissal of Shang Nian, the main culprit.

As soon as the news was released, the ‘scumbag’ voiceovers in the game vanished without a trace, as if they had never appeared. This left a group of increasingly addicted players lamenting the loss.

This event had caused Shang Nian to fall from grace and had deified hacker H.

Unfortunately, hacker H was too mysterious, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Those who wanted to recruit or challenge H were at a loss. The only thing that was certain was that H held a deep grudge against Shang Nian; a major grudge! H’s attacks had landed squarely on Shang Nian’s face, resounding loudly.

As a result, Shang Corporation had to compromise and decided to put Shang Nian on indefinite leave. If a leader couldn’t benefit the company and instead brought disaster, then it was time for them to step down.

Onlookers were deeply moved by the turn of events.

***

The atmosphere in the He family was somewhat heavy.

Earlier, Father He and Mother He had speculated whether Nian Zhenzhen had done something over the years, but they never expected the truth to be like that! After disappearing after the college entrance exam, she had become someone else’s mistress!

When Mother He learned of it, it was like a thunderbolt out of the blue, making her tremble with anger. I had raised that child for 2 years, so how could she do such a thing? To make matters worse, she had come back pregnant, wanting my son to take responsibility!

The Shang Corporation was a massive entity, and even if Mother He didn’t play games, she knew that if her son married Nian Zhenzhen and raised the child, Shang Nian might come knocking in a few years and possibly vent his anger on their family.

Just thinking about it made Mother He shiver with fear, but fortunately, it hadn’t come to that.

“Son, how are things going with Nan Shuang? Settle it quickly so that your mother can rest easy.” He Mother’s way of seeking reassurance was to push He Dongchen to settle down with someone, as if having a partner would sever all ties with Nian Zhenzhen.

He Dongchen agreed briefly, ended the call, and Nan Shuang pretended not to have heard anything. She crossed her arms and looked around the environment. Her long, curly eyelashes fluttered slightly, betraying her inner unease.

The last incident at the pool not only ruined the cooperation but also led to the other party spreading rumors that damaged their company’s reputation. He Dongchen, of course, wouldn’t sit idly by. He exposed their opponent’s misdeeds, reported them to the authorities, and got them sent to prison. Then he turned to other companies for collaboration, and things progressed smoothly.

Now, with the expansion of Xingchen Network, He Dongchen planned to move to a more spacious office location and was discussing the choice of site with Nan Shuang.

In the morning, they had visited two places and were now checking out an office building. This business district had just been developed and was somewhat desolate, but it would become bustling soon.

He Dongchen put his phone back in his pocket, took a couple of steps closer to Nan Shuang, and asked, “How about this place?”

“The environment is nice, and the location is good. It’s better than the previous two options and worth considering,” Nan Shuang replied matter-of-factly, stepping aside in her high heels.

The freshly renovated office, lacking furniture, was very spacious and the cold white tones made it feel even more so. However, Nan Shuang inexplicably felt a warmth in the air, making her face flush red.

“My mother is a bit anxious. What she said…” He Dongchen suddenly spoke.

Nan Shuang interrupted, “I know, I won’t take it to heart!”

He Dongchen looked at her with a hint of urgency, and slowly continued, “What I was going to say is that my mother is a bit anxious. What she said should be thought over carefully. Nan Shuang, what do you think of me?”

Nan Shuang was taken aback, her eyes showing a glimmer of surprise and slowly rising joy that she couldn’t suppress.

Feeling affection for an outstanding person of the opposite sex wasn’t something to be ashamed of, but adult relationships required a lot of consideration. For instance, they were currently in a superior-subordinate relationship, and a breakup could lead to unemployment.

Nan Shuang had previously told herself to be rational and to think long-term, but at that moment, looking into He Dongchen’s smiling eyes, she couldn’t help but lose control.

Perhaps she was willing to take a chance on an uncertain future.

Isn’t life all about trying again and again?

The two of them began their romance. To avoid disrupting the company atmosphere, they agreed to keep it private. At work, they maintained a professional demeanor, but after office hours, they would have dinner together, watch movies, or work late together on projects.

One time, after a particularly exhausting day at work, He Dongchen helped her by massaging her shoulders and was about to lean in for a sweet kiss when suddenly someone burst into the office. Startled, Nan Shuang pushed He Dongchen to the floor, creating an awkward situation.

They were clearly dating, but it had taken on the thrill of a ‘secret affair between a married boss and his secretary.’

It wasn’t until much later, when they announced their marriage, that they shocked everyone at the company.

The suddenness of it all was almost frightening.

Especially since there were many people in the company who had shown interest in them. Hearing the news, they were stunned, and some quietly prepared their resumes.

***

On the other side, Shang Nian, who had been abandoned by Shang Corporation and had his engagement broken, was having a rough time. Though he wasn’t short of money, he had once held a high position, managing thousands of people, and was accustomed to being the center of attention. How could he endure his current state of decline; mockery, ridicule, and being kicked when down?

In just a few months, Shang Nian experienced the harsh realities of life.

Unwilling to accept his fate, Shang Nian applied for positions at other companies, but with the infamous hacker H targeting him, no one dared to hire him.

Unable to find a way out, he attempted several ventures, all of which failed, and eventually turned to drowning his sorrows in alcohol, becoming increasingly intoxicated.

Nian Zhenzhen felt heartbroken watching him and advised, “Why don’t we just forget about it? We’re not short of money. There’s no need to go through the suffering. How about we move to a beautiful city, enjoy gardening, walk dogs, and later have a lovely baby? A simple, warm life.”

As she spoke, Nian Zhenzhen’s eyes revealed a longing for such a future.

Shang Nian was momentarily moved, but when he saw Nian Zhenzhen’s face, he instantly pulled his hand away in disgust and said, “I’m Shang Nian, born to be noble, not to be a common person.”

He was reeking of alcohol, swaying as he stood up, and clambered onto the computer to log into the forum. The reward he had posted was still unclaimed, which drove him to a fury, prompting him to add another 10 million.

It was all that damned H’s fault! I have to find him! Tear him to shreds!

Shang Nian tirelessly searched for H, even deliberately setting up a bait, creating a shell company, and preparing to make a grand comeback. He secretly recruited several tech experts, aiming for a strike.

As expected, H appeared silently, leaving behind a message that read ‘idiot,’ and then, amidst multiple attempts to block him, H departed with extreme arrogance.

Shang Nian was so enraged that he nearly spat blood. He resorted to his old tactics again, making a grand spectacle, but each time H only left behind a message calling him an idiot, and swaggered away.

Shang Nian failed to capture H, and his savings burned through at a visible rate. In the end, he had to dip into Nian Zhenzhen’s savings.

Nian Zhenzhen felt that Shang Nian had become obsessed. Watching the money in her account dwindle day by day, she was anxious and distraught. Suddenly, she remembered He Dongchen and, with an impatient Shang Nian in tow, went to seek his help.

***

“So, you want me to help him find H?” He Dongchen asked with interest, examining the pair. Nian Zhenzhen still looked weak and helpless, dressed in a pure white dress, while Shang Nian exuded an aura of gloom and impatience.

“Dongchen, you’re so capable. You can definitely do it,” Nian Zhenzhen said with hopeful eyes.

Shang Nian shot a cold glance at Nian Zhenzhen, remaining silent. Deep down, he didn’t believe Nian Zhenzhen could know any influential people.

He Dongchen noticed the disdain in Shang Nian’s eyes but was unconcerned, replying directly, “I won’t help with that.”

Shang Nian sneered at the response, “If you can’t help, you can’t. You really know how to make things worse for yourself.”

Nian Zhenzhen tugged at Shang Nian’s sleeve and looked at He Dongchen with an apologetic expression.

He Dongchen shrugged and had someone show them out.

A month later, He Dongchen’s team stood out among many competitors and secured a government contract, gaining significant recognition and a place in the industry.

Shang Nian came back again, this time with more sincerity and no longer looking down his nose.

He Dongchen took some time to meet him on the rooftop and said the same thing; “I won’t help you.”

“Why? Just name your price!” Shang Nian asked in confusion.

He Dongchen gazed at the distant blue sky and white clouds, his voice drifting. “Nian Zhenzhen and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts. I had planned to confess after the college entrance exams, but then you took her away. You got her but didn’t cherish her at all. Maybe only when you have nothing left will you learn to value her.”

Shang Nian was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something. He suddenly stepped forward and questioned, “You’re H, aren’t you? You did it on purpose! You’re jealous that I got Nian Zhenzhen, so you’re targeting me everywhere!”

He Dongchen took a step back and shrugged. “You can’t just make baseless accusations. Do you have any evidence?”

Shang Nian, furious, raised his fist to strike, but He Dongchen kicked him in the calf, causing him to kneel on the ground.

“Treat Zhen Zhen well, understand?” He Dongchen said with a meaningful smile, then lifted his foot and stomped on Shang Nian’s shoulder, sending him flying.

This is just the beginning; life was still long.

Shang Nian knew he had fallen so low because he had kept Nian Zhenzhen as a mistress. He would never reflect on why he had been so driven by desire; he only blamed Nian Zhenzhen for bringing him disaster.

In the rest of their lives, they would only torment each other.

What He Dongchen aimed to do was to add fuel to the fire every time they tried to reconcile, just as he had done in the original plot, where Shang Nian was undermined each time he tried to make a comeback.

***

He Dongchen’s company grew larger and larger, and a few years later, it acquired the struggling Shangshi Games. The company was renamed, and the game that had been attacked by H was relaunched.

The game performed well; after a few years, it remained relevant, and with effective promotion, it became a massive hit online upon its relaunch, earning rave reviews.

Seeing that, Shang Nian was enraged to the point of spitting blood. This game is clearly my achievement!

Shang Nian accused He Dongchen of being H to the media, claiming it was malicious competition.

But everything came down to evidence; who could prove that He Dongchen was H?

Later, H appeared a few more times, each time exposing another scoundrel, such as revealing the truth about a man who killed his wife for insurance or exposing a gay man who married a woman under false pretenses.

Gradually, netizens speculated that H was a woman with a strong sense of justice, who stood up against injustice wherever she saw it, causing scoundrels to lose their nerve.

Watching He Dongchen’s growing success while feeling powerless, Shang Nian was consumed with hatred. The Shang family had fallen, and no one was giving him money anymore. Nian Zhenzhen’s savings had long been depleted, and they both had to struggle to make ends meet, blending into obscurity.

Later, Liu Mengyu returned to the country and saw the fallen Shang Nian, reeking of alcohol and cursing at Nian Zhenzhen. She was nowhere near the confident person she once was.

At that moment, Liu Mengyu’s years of obsession vanished instantly, and she went abroad to continue living in decadence.

In this lifetime, He Dongchen continued to achieve great success, focusing on charity in his later years, earning the title of the “Philanthropic Richest Man.”

After seeing off his parents and wife, He Dongchen left his small world behind and began a new chapter in his life.