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Qiao Nuo felt as if the entire world had fallen silent, or perhaps it was just her who had automatically muted the sounds around her. All she could see was Jin Chengyan carrying Ruan Shengyu away.
Standing on the stage, she felt abandoned by everyone.
Especially when Jin Chengyan left, the way he looked at her was filled with such coldness, as if he believed she was the worst person in the world.
But clearly, on the large screen behind her, there were images of Ruan Shengyu urging those villains to kill Qiao Nuo!
All the cameras were focused on Qiao Nuo, and chaos erupted in the audience. Fans were screaming in disbelief; how could their goddess possibly be that despicable? What was going on with this Qiao Nuo?
The man who had just taken Ruan Shengyu off the stage—who exactly was he?
This truly was the most dramatic spectacle of the year-end gala!
Ji Nuan Yang watched Qiao Nuo, who had become frozen in shock, and felt a pang of sympathy.
As a friend, and perhaps wanting to avenge Ji Xining's slap, he didn’t mind publicly exposing Ruan Shengyu’s crimes in such a setting.
He thought about the chaos unfolding and hadn’t expected Jin Chengyan to carry Ruan Shengyu away at that moment.
Just as he was about to step forward to take Qiao Nuo away—after all, as someone who had gone on stage with her, Ji Nuan Yang needed to pull her out of this whirlwind quickly—he was surprised to see another man move even faster than him. This man rushed from backstage at lightning speed, draping a blanket over Qiao Nuo’s shoulders and helping her quickly off the stage!
Qiao Nuo caught a faint scent of disinfectant from him.
Huo Yawen.
But Qiao Nuo didn’t have the energy to think too much about it; all that occupied her mind was that Jin Chengyan still cared most for Ruan Shengyu.
In front of so many people, he chose to defend Ruan Shengyu. No matter how awkward it would be for his legitimate wife standing on the stage, in a situation where he could only take one person away, he chose Qiao Nuo.
It was clear who held a more important place in his heart.
Well, the person who needed to be taken away had been taken. This chaotic moment seemed to have come to a halt here!
The security inside blocked the reporters who wanted to rush up, and more security personnel came in to keep the frenzied fans at bay.
The big screen showing Ruan Shengyu's fierce face was taken down; the person involved had already left!
But it was too late. So many investors present had seen it, and countless fans had witnessed it as well. What was even more terrifying was that this award ceremony was being broadcast live, and viewers across the country had seen how their beloved goddess had such a venomous heart!
They should feel sorry for Qiao Nuo, who had been treated so poorly by Ruan Shengyu. Clearly, she was already the legitimate wife, yet she had to endure such treatment. Who would dare to be a legitimate wife in the future? They might as well just become a mistress!
"What a dramatic scene... Well, let’s continue with the award ceremony!" Ji Nuan Yang handed the microphone to the two bewildered hosts and gracefully stepped off the stage to sit beside Ji Xining.
Ji Nuan Yang held Ji Xining's hand; his hand was warm, while hers felt cool.
She asked Ji Nuan Yang with some concern, "Is Qiao Nuo okay?"
After thinking for a moment, Ji Nuan Yang replied, "It's hard to say she's okay."
In that kind of situation, how could she be fine? The only possibility would be that she had never loved Jin Chengyan!
…
Qiao Nuo sat inside a black SUV. Huo Yawen draped a blanket over her and helped her lie down in the back seat while he drove out of the parking lot.
Outside, a crowd of reporters waited, all aware of the situation inside. They knew that Ruan Shengyu had been taken away by Jin Chengyan, while Qiao Nuo had left with a handsome man.
In such circumstances, they would not miss any clues or details.
Any vehicle that emerged from the building would be closely monitored by them.
Huo Yawen, wearing frameless glasses and looking quite refined, drove out. As soon as the car appeared, the reporters swarmed around it, frantically snapping photos at the windshield!
However, upon seeing only one man inside with some clothes piled in the backseat, they realized that the person they were looking for was not in this car.
Gradually, they dispersed.
Huo Yawen let out a sigh of relief, restarted the engine, and drove away from the scene.
Arriving at Nanshan Apartment, the security guard recognized Huo Yawen and allowed him to enter without hesitation.
Qiao Nuo didn’t ask Huo Yawen why he was at Nanshan Apartment or how he knew Nan Chen.
When Nan Chen saw Huo Yawen enter with the silent Qiao Nuo, he didn’t inquire either and simply arranged a guest room for them.
Once inside the room, Qiao Nuo sat on the sofa. Despite the air conditioning being set to a low temperature, she felt no warmth at all.
“Qiao Nuo, say something. You’re scaring me a bit,” Huo Yawen said as he crouched beside her feet, holding her hand. It felt cold as if it had just been pulled from an ice cellar.
Qiao Nuo remained silent; she couldn’t find the words to speak.
The image of Jin Chengyan taking Ruan Shengyu away replayed in her mind over and over again.
Suddenly, Qiao Nuo seemed to remember something and tried to take out her phone from her bag. However, the gown she was wearing had no pockets, and it seemed she had left her phone at the Ji Family's place.
The more she couldn't find her phone, the more anxious Qiao Nuo became. She tugged desperately at her dress, as if pulling it would somehow conjure the phone out of thin air.
She knew she was battling with herself!
Huo Yawen grasped Qiao Nuo's hand, which was tormenting herself, with a bit too much force, making it impossible for her to break free.
"Tell me what you're looking for, and I'll help you find it!" Seeing Qiao Nuo in such distress made Huo Yawen's heart ache; he couldn't bear to watch her suffer.
He had thought that being with Jin Chengyan would make Qiao Nuo happy, that she would forget those memories and be able to live joyfully.
But when Qiao Chen came to the hospital to look for him, he finally took the time to check on Qiao Nuo's situation and realized that there were actually many conflicts between her and Jin Chengyan.
What was originally a wish for her happiness quickly transformed into an impulse to protect her.
Knowing she was in C City, he rushed over immediately, eager to see her, and ended up here.
But what he witnessed was chaos!
When he saw Jin Chengyan take the stage, he thought he was going to lead Qiao Nuo away from that troublesome place. Instead, he left with Ruan Shengyu!
Clearly, Qiao Nuo was the victim!
In that moment, Huo Yawen vowed to protect Qiao Nuo and ensure she suffered not even the slightest harm.
"Phone, phone!" Qiao Nuo repeated those two words, her gaze unfocused and unable to concentrate.
Qiao Nuo was uncertain about what to do, so Huo Yawen had no choice but to hand her phone over to Qiao Nuo. To her surprise, as soon as Qiao Nuo got the phone, she immediately dialed 110!
After a series of voice prompts, Qiao Nuo spoke into the phone, "I want to report a crime! Ruan Shengyu has plotted to kidnap me and intends to kill me! I want to file a report!"
The person on the other end of the line was likely taken aback; after all, who didn’t know Ruan Shengyu? He was a major celebrity!
"If you have evidence, please bring it to the police station to file a report!"
Qiao Nuo nodded and hung up the phone, looking as if she was ready to rush to the police station with the audio recordings right away.
Such a frantic action ultimately had Huo Yawen stopping her in her tracks.
"Qiao Nuo, calm down! Doing this will only lead to chaos! There are reporters outside looking for you and them! Can we wait until things settle down?" If she went out now, Qiao Nuo would definitely be swarmed by reporters!
Those reporters didn’t think their words were excessive; they merely believed the public had a right to know the truth. Who cared about Qiao Nuo's feelings? Naturally, they would write whatever sounded most scandalous!
It was possible that all of Qiao Nuo's past would be dug up, leaving her with no privacy at all!
Huo Yawen didn’t want Qiao Nuo to go through that, which was why she had come back to trouble Nan Chen.
However, Qiao Nuo pushed Huo Yawen away with considerable force. "Why are you stopping me too? I just want those who harmed me to get what they deserve! Why are you trying to stop me?"
Although the situation was urgent, Huo Yawen still caught some hints from Qiao Nuo's words.
She recognized him?
"Qiao Nuo, have you remembered something about me?" Otherwise, why would she be willing to follow him? Even if they had only met once in the hospital, it shouldn’t have led her to leave with him!
In that situation, Qiao Nuo could never leave with a stranger!
Moreover, she had just used the word "also."
Faced with Huo Yawen's question, Qiao Nuo was momentarily stunned.
She looked at Huo Yawen, unable to hide the fact that her thoughts had already drifted to Huo Yawen.
To be honest, she recalled a lot.
Qiao Chen, Huo Yawen, her parents, even Ni Yue and her Ex-Boyfriend!
Heh, her current husband wasn't necessarily any better.
But none of that was the point right now.
"I want Ruan Shengyu to face the consequences. Why can she break the law and get away with it? Why does Jin Chengyan protect her? Why?" Perhaps it was no longer just about wanting Ruan Shengyu to be punished; it was more about not wanting to see Jin Chengyan so protective of Ruan Shengyu!
Why did he have to protect another woman while claiming to care for her?
Could it be that a man's love and his physical desires were truly separate?
"Alright, alright, we'll make sure she faces legal consequences. We'll go to the police tomorrow. I'll contact the best lawyer for you. How about we make sure she goes to jail?" To soothe Qiao Nuo, Huo Yawen could only respond this way.
Of course, after learning the truth, he didn't want to let go of the person who had bullied Qiao Nuo. He never expected Jin Chengyan to be so protective of that woman named Ruan Shengyu!
Who exactly was Jin Chengyan's true wife?
With Huo Yawen's affirmative response, Qiao Nuo finally felt at ease. She mechanically nodded, muttering to herself, "Ruan Shengyu must go to jail, must..."
She sat back down on the sofa, her mind wandering aimlessly.
Qiao Nuo's dazed state left Huo Yawen feeling uneasy. However, he was also concerned that Jin Chengyan, who had taken Ruan Shengyu away from the stage, might come to hold Qiao Nuo accountable.
Using the excuse of getting hot water for Qiao Nuo, he encountered Nan Chen.
Nan Chen raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the guest room. Standing beside him was his wife, Jin Zhong Shu Yi. However, since he was in a cooperative relationship with Jin Chengyan, it would be somewhat awkward for Huo Yawen to leave Qiao Nuo here at this moment.
"I don't know many people in C City. Let her stay with you for tonight; I'll take her away tomorrow," Huo Yawen explained. His acquaintance with Nan Chen was merely coincidental; on a flight, Nan Chen's mother had fallen ill, and Huo Yawen, being the only doctor on board, had stepped in to help.
Afterward, Nan Chen's mother frequently contacted Huo Yawen, seemingly intending to have him become her godson. Gradually, the relationship between Huo Yawen and Nan Chen improved.
During the New Year, Nan Chen's mother would invite Huo Yawen over for dinner.
Hearing Huo Yawen's words, Nan Chen did not refuse. After all, he was already aware of what had transpired earlier in the inner circle; the high-society world was small, and that bit of news had circulated widely through both online and television channels—hard to miss.
"However, I never heard you mention that you knew Mrs. Jin," Nan Chen remarked. Referring to Mrs. Jin made it clear that he wanted Huo Yawen to understand that the person he was currently with belonged to Jin Chengyan—at least legally—advising him not to get involved in this mess.
Huo Yawen understood perfectly well.
"She was my neighbor when we were kids; I've always regarded her as a sister. I never expected her to end up in such a situation. If I, as her brother, don't help her now, what else can she do?" With both her parents deceased and only an eighteen-year-old brother at home, how could she bear this burden alone?
Upon hearing Huo Yawen's explanation, Nan Chen did not press further. Everyone had their own thoughts and methods; no one had the right to interfere or stop another.
"Then Xiao Yi and I will head upstairs first. There are two guest rooms downstairs; you know where they are," Nan Chen said as he patted Huo Yawen on the shoulder and led his wife upstairs.
Jin Zhong Shu Yi was indeed acquainted with Qiao Nuo. Although she knew that Qiao Nuo had lost her memory, her worries were still not diminished.
As they ascended the stairs, she said to her husband, "I think Jin Shao went a bit too far. How could he possibly carry Ruan Shengyu off the stage at that moment, leaving his wife alone up there? What would you do if you were in his shoes?"
Nan Chen pondered for a moment before replying, "How could I ever let you find yourself in such a situation?"
Jin Zhong Shu Yi smiled in satisfaction.
Their voices grew quieter, and Huo Yawen, holding a cup of hot water for Qiao Nuo, found himself unable to step forward.
Seeing Qiao Nuo like that made it hard for him to think of her as a younger sister; he wished he could comfort her like a man would.
But he also had no reason to encourage her to divorce Jin Chengyan. Such matters should be decided by Qiao Nuo herself.
Never mind; after all, he would be Qiao Nuo's strongest support in the future. As long as she remembered him, everything would turn out fine.
He slowly made his way toward Qiao Nuo's room.
Just then, his phone rang at an inopportune moment.
It was an unfamiliar number, and he answered it.
"Huo Yawen, you have half an hour to bring Qiao Nuo back to me!" Jin Chengyan's furious voice came through the line.
But what right did this man have to shout at him?
"Why should I return Qiao Nuo to you? In front of thousands of people, you left the stage with your mistress. Did you even consider Qiao Nuo's feelings? You left her to face so many reporters and onlookers alone. Is this the awareness a husband should have? The one least qualified to shout and demand right now is you!" Jin Chengyan was angry; didn't Huo Yawen feel the same way?
A good girl was handed over to him, but unexpectedly, he let her experience being framed, kidnapped, and almost killed!
Marrying him was not about enjoying a life of luxury; it was living on the edge of a knife!
"I don't want to waste my breath with you. If you still want to survive in Qin Cheng, you better bring Qiao Nuo back to me immediately! I..."
Huo Yawen, annoyed by the conversation, hung up the phone, leaving Jin Chengyan to shout on the other end! He shouldn't think that just because he was the ruler of Qin Cheng, he could act without restraint and protect someone who incited others to commit murder!
As Huo Yawen was about to head toward Qiao Nuo's room, she put her phone in her pocket and looked up to see Qiao Nuo standing at the door.
...
Jin Chengyan couldn't hold back any longer; frustration welled up in his chest as he slammed his phone down onto the coffee table.
The glass table shattered instantly from the force of the impact, and Jin Chengyan's phone screen cracked immediately.
Ruan Shengyu, sitting at the other end of the sofa, jumped in surprise at Jin Chengyan's action.
"A Shan, find Qiao Nuo! I need to see her by tomorrow!" Jin Chengyan rubbed his temples, his expression dark. "This matter cannot be suppressed; do whatever it takes to minimize media coverage."
A Shan did not nod, for the first time not fully complying with Jin Chengyan's orders.
Because if all resources were used to bury this incident, the ultimate beneficiary would not be Qiao Nuo but rather Ruan Shengyu sitting on the sofa.
"A Shan?" Jin Chengyan raised his head, noticing A Shan's silence.
A Shan met Jin Chengyan's gaze. "Young Master, your godfather said not to involve Ruan Shengyu in this matter."
Jin Zhongshu knew, of course he did. How could he not know? So many people were aware of it!
His brows furrowed even tighter.
He had originally wanted everyone to escape unscathed. If Ruan Shengyu took his check in the afternoon and left Qin Cheng, he knew that none of the audio and video recordings would be aired that night. Even if Qiao Nuo was angry, without the female lead on stage, it would hold no significance!
Qiao Nuo wanted to see Ruan Shengyu utterly disgraced!
And she succeeded!
When Qiao Nuo declared she wouldn't let Ruan Shengyu off the hook, Jin Chengyan sensed that something would happen. He just didn't expect Qiao Nuo to resort to such extreme measures.
This method not only ruined Ruan Shengyu's reputation but also exposed Qiao Nuo completely to the media. Her life would undergo even greater changes, subjected to relentless scrutiny from every angle, with no peace in sight!
This was the outcome Jin Chengyan dreaded the most. Did everyone have to be left scarred before they could feel satisfied?
"Are you ignoring my orders?" Jin Chengyan's gaze was stern as he looked at A Shan.
A Shan remained silent. He had always obeyed Jin Chengyan's commands unconditionally, but this time, he decided to heed Jin Zhongshu's advice.
"A Yan, I can bring Young Madam before you. But do you think she will be willing to be with you without any reservations?" A Shan called out Jin Chengyan's name as if they were brothers; at that moment, they were no longer superior and subordinate.
Jin Chengyan suddenly stood up and said to A Shan, "Isn't Qiao Nuo the one who caused this situation?"
A Shan looked at the enraged Jin Chengyan, momentarily confused as to why his master of so many years was directing all his anger towards Qiao Nuo at this moment.
Wasn't Qiao Nuo the more innocent party in this matter? Shouldn't the one who deserved punishment be Ruan Shengyu?
Upon hearing Jin Chengyan's words, Ruan Shengyu, who had been feeling anxious, suddenly found a sense of calm.
Look, at this moment, it was Qiao Nuo that Jin Chengyan was blaming!
When he carried her off the stage, she felt that even if the whole world turned against her, as long as Jin Chengyan stood by her side, she could face anything without fear. And now, it seemed that was indeed the case!
Her A Yan had always cared for her! It was just that for a moment, he had been blinded by that wicked woman Qiao Nuo. Now that he knew her true nature, he would distance himself from her!
“Your godfather asked me to tell you that if you can't handle Ruan Shengyu, let him take care of it for you.”
A Shan used the word "handle," which was only used when dealing with objects. Clearly, to the Jin family, Ruan Shengyu wasn't even considered a person.
A Shan left calmly but immediately sent someone to find Qiao Nuo's whereabouts.
In the vast living room, only Jin Chengyan and Ruan Shengyu remained, along with the shattered coffee table and phone.
“A Yan...”
“Shut up!” Jin Chengyan said coldly to Ruan Shengyu.
Ruan Shengyu was indeed intimidated by Jin Chengyan's imposing presence. Yet clearly, just moments ago during the choice between them, Jin Chengyan had chosen her! Why was he still so worried about Qiao Nuo?
Perhaps it was simply because the Jin family cared more about Qiao Nuo that he felt pressured and thus paid more attention to her.
“I told you before, once you leave, these things will be treated as if they never happened. Why do you insist on staying here? Do you really think Qiao Nuo won’t retaliate against you? Do you think I will truly protect you forever?” If Jin Zhongshu intervened, even a hundred Ruan Shengyus wouldn’t stand a chance.
Tears welled up in Ruan Shengyu's eyes as she looked pitifully at him. “Don’t you understand? If it weren’t for loving you, why would I stay here? You want me to go to a city without you; I can’t do it. Watching you be with another woman is something I can’t bear.”
Jin Chengyan rubbed his temples; this confession had come too late.
The three words he once longed to hear were now forever out of reach.
In an effort to make Ruan Shengyu willingly say those three words, he pretended to be in a relationship with Qiao Nuo. But in the end, he had invested his whole heart into it.
Sometimes, the person you constantly think about can't compare to the one who is always there, caring for you.
Moreover, at that time, Ruan Shengyu was completely focused on Yan Beiting.
"I am already married," Jin Chengyan stated calmly, "and I have no plans to divorce." Even when the contract expired, he no longer wanted a divorce; he had come to see Qiao Nuo as the person he wanted to spend his life with.
"But you said that as long as I asked, you would divorce Qiao Nuo."
"I once said I would give up everything for you. Yet what did you give me in return? You plotted against Qiao Nuo, even going so far as to ruin your own reputation to make her take the blame. You even wanted to kill her! If you didn't want Qiao Nuo around me, why didn't you just tell me instead of resorting to such measures?"
Ruan Shengyu had a clear shortcut but chose the longest path instead, only to find herself lost and unable to return.
"I can't help you hide this anymore. The police might come looking for you tomorrow. All I can do is find you the best lawyer." Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder was no small matter, especially since it had already been exposed. Someone would definitely come to talk to Ruan Shengyu and investigate the situation!
Ruan Shengyu collapsed onto the sofa, tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally fell.
"Are you really going to treat me this way?"
But this was no longer how Jin Chengyan wanted things to be; he certainly didn't wish for matters to escalate like this.
He wanted to be with Qiao Nuo but also wished to settle things with Ruan Shengyu. However, there was no way to have it all, especially when it came to matters of the heart.
"You can choose to turn yourself in at the police station, or wait for the police to come tomorrow." Jin Chengyan knew that if he continued to protect Ruan Shengyu at this moment, he would only be putting her in greater danger.
Of course, he could quietly send Ruan Shengyu abroad, but after that, there would be no more Ruan Shengyu in the country, and she would cease to exist in this world! She would need a new identity!
She would have to live a life of hiding abroad, never able to stand openly in the sunlight again.
If he were to help Ruan Shengyu, Jin Zhongshu would undoubtedly stand against him. Jin Zhongshu would not allow him to do anything that brought no benefit to the Jin Family!
What he could do was take Ruan Shengyu away from the venue, where so many people were present and she was most likely to be attacked.
At that moment, she was the target of everyone's scorn, the center of conflict. Under the barrage of verbal attacks from those people, it was very likely she wouldn't be able to hold on.
Leaving Qiao Nuo behind, he knew Ji Nuan Yang and Ji Xining would take care of her; at least they would ensure she safely left the venue and returned home.
So faced with such a choice, Jin Chengyan could only take Ruan Shengyu with him.
Moreover, when he heard Ruan Shengyu's cold voice echoing through the venue, he froze. Qiao Nuo met his gaze in the dim light.
He realized that all of this had been orchestrated by Qiao Nuo.
The award ceremony, the presentation of an award to Ruan Shengyu—everything had been planned by Qiao Nuo to ruin Ruan Shengyu's reputation!
What surprised him was how quickly Qiao Nuo could arrange so many things, all waiting for Ruan Shengyu to fall!
Qiao Nuo's intentions were indeed unfathomable!
He was also angry; why did Qiao Nuo have to become so scheming? He didn’t want Qiao Nuo to turn into someone like that! He didn’t want the person lying beside him to constantly be calculating against him!
He slammed the door shut and returned to his room, not caring about what would happen to Ruan Shengyu next.
Back in another suite at the hotel, Jin Chengyan paced back and forth. Qiao Nuo's phone had long been turned off, and he couldn't reach her at all. How could that Huo Yawen be in C City at this time?
Did Ji Nuan Yang really just hand her over to Huo Yawen?
Thinking about it, it was truly a group of unreliable people!
He couldn't sleep at all. If something like this happened to you tonight, you wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully either.
Jin Chengyan tossed and turned until it was nearly dawn before he finally fell asleep from exhaustion, only to wake up at nine o'clock in the morning!
When he came out of his room after washing up, he saw Qiao Nuo sitting on the sofa in the living room. Behind her were several people: one was Huo Yawen, while two others were dressed in suits holding briefcases, and the other two were in police uniforms.
Qiao Nuo had actually called the police!
Now there was no need for A Shan to bring anyone over; Qiao Nuo had come herself!
But what a scene this was!
“Mr. Jin, please cooperate and hand over Ruan Shengyu to assist us in our investigation. Otherwise, we will have to charge you with obstructing justice,” one of the officers stated matter-of-factly.
Jin Chengyan had just woken up and hadn't even had a glass of water yet when they came at him like this!
He looked at Qiao Nuo, who sat on the sofa with a cold expression, his brows furrowing.
“I need to talk to Qiao Nuo alone.” Even though Jin Chengyan was dressed in a T-shirt and cotton pants, lacking the sharpness that a suit provided, the aura of authority he exuded was enough to make others unable to refuse him.
“I have nothing to discuss with you; you just need to call out Ruan Shengyu,” Qiao Nuo said, her mind consumed by the thought of using legal means to punish Ruan Shengyu.
Jin Chengyan stepped forward, grabbing Qiao Nuo's arm and pulling her up.
Huo Yawen immediately seized Jin Chengyan's arm, and the three of them stood there in a tense standoff.
Both Jin Chengyan and Huo Yawen were applying significant pressure, waiting to see who would let go first.
“Get lost!” Jin Chengyan said coldly, not even glancing at Huo Yawen.
“Let go of Qiao Nuo first!” Huo Yawen remained unfazed.
Jin Chengyan's gaze was fixed on Qiao Nuo. She had learned to call for help; if one Huo Yawen wasn’t enough, she had brought along the police. The other two—were they lawyers?
As they were locked in this standoff, the two police officers who had followed them seemed to sense something. They frowned and said, “Do you smell blood?”
With that, Jin Chengyan released Qiao Nuo’s hand and rushed toward Ruan Shengyu’s room.
Upon opening the door, he saw Ruan Shengyu lying in the bathtub, her left wrist slashed open, blood staining the entire tub red.
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