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墨書 Inktalez
"Ayan, how did you know I've always wanted to buy a house here?" In a riverside villa, Ruan Shengyu couldn't help but fall in love with the place from the moment she stepped inside. The architectural style, the interior design, and the view outside the window all showcased the buyer's meticulous care.
After having Ruan Shengyu's luggage set down, Jin Chengyan instructed everyone else to leave. Now, the vast villa was left with only Ruan Shengyu and Jin Chengyan.
Ruan Shengyu had been recuperating in the hospital for quite some time after her previous wrist-cutting incident. Liu Mingzhang had sent her numerous supplements and ensured that the doctors took good care of her.
So, after half a month, Ruan Shengyu had returned to her former self!
She looked around the villa, admiring the cool-toned curtains, the modern sofa and furniture that were clean and sleek, and the floor that shone like a mirror... it was everything she envisioned for her ideal home.
"You must have prepared a dance room, right?" Ruan Shengyu asked with a hint of teasing.
Jin Chengyan stood beside the sofa, smiling silently.
It had been a long time since Ruan Shengyu had seen that expression. It was a unique smile that Jin Chengyan wore when he was being indulgent towards someone. She used to take this smile for granted.
Some things are only cherished after they have been lost.
Ruan Shengyu glanced at the doors of several rooms downstairs and walked over to casually open one.
She had once studied dance diligently, hoping to become an outstanding dancer one day. However, after losing her parents and with her brother wanting to sell her for money, she had no choice but to start working early.
So much had happened afterward; if it weren't for Jin Chengyan, she might have ended up doing some dirty work somewhere without knowing what she was doing.
Sure enough, upon opening one door, she found a spacious dance room with an entire wall of glass, stretching bars, floor-to-ceiling windows, and white curtains!
If she opened the windows and let the river breeze lift the white curtains while she danced inside, it would create such a beautiful scene.
She walked in and turned on the sound system, the strains of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" filling the air. As a ballet dancer, she naturally rose onto her toes upon hearing the music.
Imagining herself on stage, dressed as a white swan.
How beautiful it was, everything more splendid than before!
But unexpectedly, Jin Chengyan suddenly snapped the sound off with a loud click.
The music stopped, and Ruan Shengyu slowly lowered her feet, looking at Jin Chengyan in confusion. Didn't he want to watch her dance?
"Your body has just recovered; there will be plenty of time to dance slowly in the future. There's no rush," he explained, which made sense.
Ruan Shengyu smiled gently and walked over, taking Jin Chengyan's arm. "Then dance a piece with me. We’ve never really danced together properly. You have no idea how envious I feel when you attend banquets and dance with other women."
In the past, at those commercial banquets, it was inevitable that some entertainment stars would be invited, and Ruan Shengyu was a frequent guest.
Jin Chengyan only attended because he couldn't refuse, so he often encountered such situations.
Dancing with others involved a mix of sincerity and pretense; Jin Chengyan understood this well. Now, as Ruan Shengyu brought it up again, it felt like a lifetime ago.
His hand rested on her waist while her hand lay on his shoulder.
There was no music, but the steps were already etched in their hearts. They instinctively took the first step together and then spun…
Ruan Shengyu slowly leaned her head against Jin Chengyan's shoulder, listening to the strong rhythm of his heartbeat.
“Ayan, it’s really nice like this now,” Ruan Shengyu said softly.
No matter whether Jin Chengyan was Jono's husband at that moment, as long as he was by her side, she felt incredibly happy.
Why is it that after experiencing those things, one realizes that the best person was right beside them all along?
Jin Chengyan looked at his expressionless reflection in the mirror, holding in his arms the person he once desperately wanted to have. Now, it was just like this.
“Then stay here and be good,” Jin Chengyan said, gently guiding Ruan Shengyu's back as they danced silently in the studio.
...
“Miss Qiao, seeing is believing. Do you really think you’re happy occupying a man who doesn’t love you?” In the black sedan, Liu Mingzhang seemed to be advising Jono.
Jono's gaze fell on the villa not far away. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she saw a man she knew all too well, holding a woman she despised!
Jin Chengyan, how can you make me believe you? You asked me... to have children with you! You say you want to be with me for a lifetime, yet in the blink of an eye, you’re embracing Ruan Shengyu? Why were you with me? Was it really just because Ruan Shengyu was tarnished and your masculine pride couldn’t bear it? So while you indulged in pleasure with me, you were also having a spiritual romance with Ruan Shengyu?
Jono withdrew her gaze and calmly looked at Liu Mingzhang.
“I don’t know what you mean by bringing me to see this at your age! Since you're getting older, you should do what someone your age ought to do! Like enjoying your old age at home! Oh right, since you've taken Ruan Shengyu as your goddaughter, I guess it's because there are no heirs in your family to keep you company!” Jono said without changing her expression or missing a beat.
Even knowing that this person was someone whom even the Jin Family had to treat with caution, Jono couldn’t remain calm at that moment!
Jono was indeed speaking the truth; she had only seen people in their twenties or thirties engaging in such matters. At Liu Mingzhang's age, still involving himself in these affairs—wasn’t that just disrespectful?
Liu Mingzhang did not expect Jono to be so audacious. He cleared his throat awkwardly, but his expression remained cold as he cast a satisfied glance at the couple inside the villa.
"You don't need to be angry; the facts are right in front of you. If I were you, I would leave quickly before you lose face. Do you really want to experience what it's like to be a discarded wife of a wealthy family?"
Jono had no interest in being a discarded wife. She glanced at the car door, which was locked from the driver's side. The driver and the person sitting in the passenger seat were both large and intimidating, much like A-Shan's people, making escape a difficult task.
"You've shown me what I needed to see; can I go now? After all, I'm still the Jin Family Young Mistress. Once you become Jin Chengyan's father-in-law, it will be easy for you to do whatever you want with me! But remember, if anything happens to me, Jin Chengyan will ensure you have a life to live but no way to escape!" Jono just wanted to leave this place; even a minute longer with Liu Mingzhang made her uncomfortable.
"What's wrong? Do you want to go inside and take a look? If I were you, I wouldn't be so clueless. Not only would you lose face, but it could also speed up your transformation into a discarded wife!"
"If you don't open the door, I'll smash your car!" Jono shouted angrily, pulling out the phone that Jin Chengyan had given her, adorned with a circle of diamonds. Whether it was an honor for the car or for her phone remained uncertain!
She pressed the phone against the window resolutely. If Liu Mingzhang didn't open the door, she would smash it! Let's see whether her phone or the car window would break first!
Liu Mingzhang watched Jono's hand and fully believed that if he didn't open the door, she would indeed smash it!
He signaled to the driver, who promptly unlocked the car.
Jono couldn't wait another moment; she immediately opened the door and got out!
The black sedan drove away instantly, clearly leaving this place for Jono.
Standing behind a one-meter-high bush, Jono realized that if Jin Chengyan simply looked up instead of focusing on the person in his arms, he would see her standing outside.
Jono stared at the two people inside and found that she could no longer cry! Her fragile heart had been shattered and rebuilt time and again until it became incredibly hard, no longer feeling anything towards Jin Chengyan's actions.
She stared for two minutes before walking away indifferently.
In January, the weather by the river was cold, and the biting wind made Jono feel as if her bones were frozen together. Her hands were icy as she clutched her bag, her gaze fixed solely on the road ahead.
If she could just walk out of this riverside path, it would be warmer, and she could start a new life?
Jono didn't know; she only felt her vision blur, unable to see anything clearly, unable to comprehend anything!
Later, she couldn't recall how she made it back to her small apartment from the riverside. She felt terrifyingly cold all over. She entered the bathroom, turned on the heater, and then the hot water, still dressed, standing under the showerhead.
The hot water poured down from the showerhead, cascading from her head to her feet, seeping through her icy clothes until it finally touched Jono's skin. It took a long time before she began to feel a bit warmer.
In her mind's eye, it seemed like Jin Chengyan was still holding Ruan Shengyu.
But what she remembered was that just the day before, Jin Chengyan had held her too, repeatedly talking about wanting to have a child with her, trying to get physical. She had rejected him time and again, and he hadn’t seemed too angry about it.
Eventually, whether it was Jin Chengyan or Jono, they both found this back-and-forth exchange quite enjoyable. He never insisted that she must have a child with him, and she didn’t firmly refuse him either.
Later on, he held her while they slept. She listened to his steady breathing and felt the warmth of his embrace!
But now, Jono sat under the showerhead, hugging her own arms.
It wasn't that she wasn't sad or that she didn't feel heartbroken; it was just that she didn't want to show that sadness outside.
Don't think Jono was strong; in fact, she was weaker than anyone else and needed comfort more than anyone realized. They had no idea how devastating that scene had been for Jono!
Jin Chengyan, ah, that woman who wanted to kill Jono!
Jono took off her soaked clothes and changed into a clean outfit, wrapping a towel around her hair as she emerged from the bathroom.
The room was comfortably air-conditioned. Jono rummaged through the drawer and found Qiao Chen's passport along with all of his documents.
Then, she began to search online for the information she needed.
...
Late at night, Jin Chengyan's phone rang just as Jono had settled into bed. She hadn't returned to Jin Mansion that evening, thinking that Jin Chengyan wouldn't be back either, so he wouldn't even notice her absence.
When she answered the call, she was surprised to find it wasn't Jin Chengyan on the other end.
"Aunt-in-law, Uncle and I are back at Jin Mansion. Why aren't you here?" Chuyu Xiu's childlike voice came through the line. Sometimes he sounded like a little adult, and other times just like any kid his age.
Hearing Chuyu Xiu's voice eased Jono's previously tense demeanor.
"I'm at my own home. Why are you still awake so late?" Jono wouldn't take out her frustration with Jin Chengyan on the entire Jin family.
"Aunt-in-law is at her own home... Uncle and I just got back from the hospital. We went to see Grandpa and now we're home, but we didn't see you here!"
Jono couldn't help but smirk internally; Jin Chengyan had really managed his time well. He could return from Ruan Shengyu's place and still pick up Chuyu Xiu to visit Jin Zhongshu in the hospital!
Was he particularly skilled at playing both sides?
"It's late, you should get some rest. You'll see me tomorrow," Jono said, feeling a bit tired and lacking the energy to talk to Chuyu Xiu.
"Hey, Jin Chengyan, why did you take my phone? I was talking to Aunt-in-law!"
"Chuyu Xiu, this is my phone, okay? If you want to call Aunt-in-law, use the landline!"
"But I don't even know Aunt-in-law's mobile number!"
Jono listened to the conversation on the other end of the line and for a brief moment considered hanging up, not wanting to hear Jin Chengyan's voice.
However, that person was already talking to her on the phone.
"Are you at Qiao Chen's place?" Jin Chengyan's voice was soft, likely trying not to let Chuyu Xiu hear.
Jono didn't know how to respond to Jin Chengyan; she could only remain silent.
Noticing Jono's unusual silence, Jin Chengyan asked, "What's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?"
Taking a deep breath, Jono replied, "It's late. I'm going to sleep."
At that moment, the call was disconnected. Jono turned off her phone and tossed it onto the floor; it was better not to see it.
She couldn't face Jin Chengyan so calmly. She didn't understand how he could be so composed with her while also holding Ruan Shengyu in his arms and speaking so gently with her just moments later.
Jin Chengyan, which version of you is the real one?
Jono burrowed under the covers, forcing herself to think of nothing and to fall asleep quickly; everything could be resolved in the morning.
Half an hour later, Jono still hadn’t fallen asleep. The only sound in the room was the air conditioning humming softly.
The southern chill was particularly biting today. Even with the air conditioning on, it was hard to feel warm. In the past, she would feel no coldness while sleeping in Jin Chengyan's arms, but now, alone in bed, even the air conditioning offered little comfort.
Suddenly, a rustling sound broke the silence, sending Jono's heart racing.
Who was it?
Qiao Chen?
How could Qiao Chen possibly return at this late hour? He should be busy with winter break classes and wouldn’t be able to come out!
Could it be… a burglar?
The reason she had chosen to live here was because the rent was cheap. Even after getting together with Jin Chengyan and having more money, Jono never considered moving out.
Partly because Jono lived in Jin Mansion while Qiao Chen stayed at school, they rarely returned home. There were no valuable items inside, so there was no need to move.
Jono also didn’t cancel the lease because she felt that this place would always be her and Qiao Chen's home. No matter what happened with Jin Chengyan, she could always come back here.
But she had overlooked the fact that the security here wasn’t great!
Cautiously, Jono got out of bed. She remembered there was a fly swatter in the room. Although it wouldn’t do much against a real intruder, she couldn’t just let herself be victimized!
But she heard voices outside the room.
"Wow, Uncle, what kind of place is this? It's so small... Are you sure Aunt-in-law really lives here?"
"You talk too much; I shouldn't have brought you along!"
"What do you mean? Aunt-in-law must be mad at you, that's why she's gone back to her parents' house! When my mom and dad argue, my mom also goes back to her parents'!"
"I don't even know what your parents are teaching you!" It seemed necessary to have a serious talk with Jin Mengli about how to educate Chuyu Xiu!
Hearing the conversation outside, Jono finally felt relieved.
So it was Jin Chengyan who had come.
Jin Chengyan was here!
How did he get here?
Jono put down the fly swatter, turned on the light in the room, and as she was about to open the door, the person outside opened it at the same time, and they met at the doorway.
Jin Chengyan felt like they finally met.
Jono felt like they were meeting again.
"Wow, Aunt-in-law, it's so good to see you! I've missed you so much!" Chuyu Xiu opened her arms and tilted her head, asking for a hug.
Jono's gaze lingered on Jin Chengyan for just a second before he looked down at Chuyu Xiu. Seeing that he wanted a hug, Jono crouched down and picked him up.
The little guy was dressed lightly, wearing only a down jacket over a sweater, without a scarf or gloves. His small face was flushed red from the cold, likely from walking up from downstairs.
When Jono glanced back at Jin Chengyan, he saw him still in his suit and shirt, with a coat on top, much warmer than Chuyu Xiu.
Does this man not know how to take care of a child?
With this appearance, how could he even think about having kids?
“Come inside quickly; it must be freezing out there.” The room outside had no heating, so Jono could only bring Chuyu Xiu into the room.
“I rushed over to see you. If I was late, Uncle wouldn’t have brought me,” Chuyu Xiu replied. Indeed, as soon as Jin Chengyan learned that Jono was here, he immediately grabbed the car keys to leave. But Chuyu Xiu wanted to come along; however, he had just taken off his clothes to get ready for a bath when he had to throw on the quickest outfit he could find.
Jono silently shot a glance at Jin Chengyan but said nothing more.
Jin Chengyan closed the door behind them, blocking the cold air from coming in. “You should hurry to bed; it’s so cold in here. If you don’t want to put on more clothes, should we go back to Jin Mansion?”
Even someone who was emotionally dull could sense that Jono was a bit displeased with Jin Chengyan at that moment.
“I don’t want to change clothes.” After saying this, Jono took off Chuyu Xiu's outer jacket and let him go to bed before following him onto the bed.
Memories flooded back to that time in the hospital when Jin Chengyan was injured. Chuyu Xiu had come to the hospital late and ended up needing to sleep there too. The domineering Jin Chengyan had insisted on sending Chuyu Xiu to another room, claiming that even though Chuyu Xiu was a child, he couldn’t sleep in the same bed as Jono.
At that moment, as soon as Chuyu Xiu got onto the bed, just as expected, Jin Chengyan pulled him out again and draped the jacket over him.
"You really have to get into everyone's bed, don't you?" Jin Chengyan shot a disapproving look at Chuyu Xiu.
"But I'm cold! You won't let me wear any clothes. I'm going to tell my mom—your sister—that you're bullying me! You say this is something a girl shouldn't do? I'm still going to tell her!" Chuyu Xiu seemed genuinely frightened by the cold, already preparing an escape route for himself.
"Jin Chengyan, why are you arguing with a child? How about you let Chuyu Xiu sleep in the bed, and I'll go outside?" Jono said as he got up from the bed.
Having just finished his shower, Jono was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, which was really too little for winter!
Seeing this, Jin Chengyan's irritation vanished.
In fact, he hadn't been angry at all. He immediately said, "Jono, put on some clothes. What will you do if you catch a cold?"
"But I want to catch a cold too!" Chuyu Xiu said pitifully.
Jin Chengyan felt like he was going to be driven mad by Chuyu Xiu. If he had known better, he wouldn't have thought about bringing Chuyu Xiu along when they met at the hospital. Maybe Jono would have wanted to have a child of his own after seeing the little one!
He never expected the child to be so... troublesome.
In the end, Jin Chengyan found a compromise: there were two blankets, one for Chuyu Xiu and one for Jono.
They had decided not to return to Jin Mansion.
Jin Chengyan couldn't understand how he had compromised so easily after Jono mentioned not wanting to wear clothes.
Could it be that Jono was just in a bad mood today?
But just a few days ago, she was perfectly fine!
Jin Chengyan shook his head, wondering if it was Jono's time of the month. That could explain why Jono was in such a bad mood.
However, after taking a look around, there was no space left for him on that bed! Where was he supposed to sleep?
"Jono, where am I supposed to sleep?"
Jono glanced at Chuyu Xiu, who was sleeping on the other pillow. This little guy was truly handsome, inheriting all the best traits from both his mother and father. When he grew up, he would be an extraordinarily attractive young man.
"Outside," Jono replied calmly.
"Outside?" Jin Chengyan exclaimed in disbelief. "There's no air conditioning out there!"
"Or you could go back to Jin Mansion; no one is stopping you," Jono said lightly as he gently patted Chuyu Xiu's back. The little guy seemed very tired and quickly fell asleep—he was out in an instant!
Jin Chengyan stood by the window, looking at the distant Jono, who seemed so unapproachable. "Are you... on your period?"
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