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墨書 Inktalez
Some things truly cannot be resolved with money, especially when the other party is wealthier than oneself; in such cases, money becomes utterly useless.
Qiao Nuo stood once again at the entrance of Jin Mansion. If her previous visit had been driven by a determination to sever ties with Jin Chengyan, this time, all she hoped for was that he would not pursue her to the end.
"Ding dong~ ding dong~" Qiao Nuo pressed the doorbell, hoping he wouldn’t see her face on the screen and hang up immediately.
After waiting for half a minute, the door opened from within, revealing A Shan, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Upon seeing Qiao Nuo, A Shan's expression was complex.
"Miss Qiao, hello."
"A Shan, I have something I need to discuss with Jin Chengyan. Can you let me in?" If it weren't for Qiao Kawai, she might never have set foot in this place again. The humiliation and discomfort surged within her.
A Shan stepped aside to let Qiao Nuo enter.
However, as soon as she walked into Jin Mansion, Qiao Nuo noticed two gardeners clearing out all the flowers and plants from the yard. Nearby, a vehicle was loaded with new flora.
But those being replaced seemed perfectly fine; there was nothing wrong with them.
Qiao Nuo had no time to ponder why the plants in the yard were being replaced; she walked into the villa.
Once inside, Qiao Nuo realized that not only had the outdoor flora changed, but the furnishings within the villa had also undergone a complete transformation.
In just a couple of days, Jin Chengyan had completely altered everything inside Jin Mansion.
He had told Qiao Nuo that everything here remained as it was to await her return.
After that day, he changed everything. Did he want to tell her that his Jin Chengyan world would be cleared of Qiao Nuo from now on? Jin ChengyanIn the study room, it also has a new look, new bookcases, new desks, and new carpets. He sat on the chair and took back all his official duties. He really wasn't in the mood to go to the company these days. Hearing the footsteps, Jin Chengyan looked up and saw Qiao Nuo. The pen in his hand was held so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Jin... Mr. Jin..." "Who asked you to come in?" Jin Chengyan interrupted Qiao Nuo coldly. No need to think about it, it was naturally A Shan who let this person in. Qiao Nuo His face is no longer the decisive one of the past few days. It may be that he is asking for help from others, so naturally he should have the attitude of asking for others. "I insisted on coming in, and it has nothing to do with A Shan." "I didn't know you had a considerate side." Jin Chengyan quickly choked out Qiao Nuo, then lowered his head to look at the document, not thinking Pay attention to Qiao Nuo standing at the door. Qiao NuoLooking at Jin Chengyan's resistant posture, I guess it was something she said that day that made him unhappy. But that day, whose fault was it? Doesn’t Jin Chengyan have a decision? After waiting for a while, there was only silence in the room. Jin Chengyan looked up and found that Qiao Nuo was still there, dissatisfied.
“How long are you going to stand there? Don’t you want to stay as far away from me as possible?”
Qiao Nuo braced herself against Jin Chengyan's cold words. She had anticipated everything she would endure by coming here, even the worst-case scenario, so she had developed an immunity to his remarks.
“Mr. Jin, I want to ask you to donate bone marrow for Qiao Kawai. If you agree, I will fulfill any request you make.” Qiao Nuo gathered her courage and stood before Jin Chengyan. For Qiao Kawai, she was willing to do anything.
Finally, Jin Chengyan lifted his gaze from the documents.
He slammed his pen down and coldly stared at Qiao Nuo.
“Is it true that without Qiao Kawai, you wouldn’t even look at me for the rest of your life?”
Qiao Nuo kept her lips tightly sealed. If he hadn’t forced her into this situation, perhaps there would have been a chance for something different. However, he insisted on being domineering.
Receiving no response from Qiao Nuo, Jin Chengyan rose from his chair, walked around the desk, and stood in front of her.
He lifted her chin with one hand. “Tell me, don’t you hate me? But because of Qiao Kawai, you had to come here to beg me! To you, I’m just someone you can use whenever you need and discard afterward! Admit it, isn’t that what you think?”
He deliberately raised her chin high, forcing her to look up at his face, which was so close yet felt so distant.
So familiar, yet so strange.
“At first, I didn’t know you were the donor; it was Dr. Qi who told me.”
“So you’re saying I purposely had Qi Ziluo inform you? To make you come begging me?” Wasn’t that how it was? “Then why don’t you go plead with your Xi Yisheng? He’s the behind-the-scenes boss of the Italian Mafia; asking him would surely be faster than asking me.”
He clearly cared about what she had said to him that day; every word was sharp and aimed at Xi Yisheng.
"I don't want to owe him any more," Qiao Nuo replied honestly. Four years had already left her in enough debt.
If the events of the past few days, where Jin Chengyan had forced her, hadn't happened, Qiao Nuo could have approached Xi Yisheng without hesitation. He knew many people and surely had a way to help.
But that was based on the fact that she was someone Xi Yisheng liked. She could offer him a worn but restored body, a heart that had been mended.
However, Jin Chengyan had ruined everything. With her current state, how could she face Xi Yisheng and ask for his help?
"Do you think owing me feels better than owing Xi Yisheng?" Jin Chengyan prodded at the spot in Qiao Nuo's heart.
But that place had long been empty.
"If I'm destined to be entangled with you, then any struggle on my part is meaningless. You want me, and I'll give myself to you, as long as you can save Qiao Kawai." He must know everything; Qiao Kawai's biological mother couldn't save her, so she had no choice but to seek his help.
Jin Chengyan smiled, cold and indifferent. He withdrew his hand and stepped away from her.
"Do you think I would want a woman who's been touched by someone else? Those were your own words!" Jin Chengyan turned his back on Qiao Nuo, using her own words against her.
Qiao Nuo took a deep breath. Indeed, they had always gone to great lengths to hurt each other; it seemed that only this way could they prove their deep love for one another.
"What will it take for you to save Qiao Kawai? She's dying! If she dies, I can't go on living either! Jin Chengyan, please save her! I'm begging you! Please..." Qiao Nuo felt utterly helpless. She had anticipated Jin Chengyan's indifference but never expected it to be this cold.
He continued to wound her with his words, stabbing at her heart with blatant cruelty. What more did he want?
Would kneeling before him suffice? As long as he could save Qiao Kawai, she would do anything!
In desperation, she knelt before Jin Chengyan, casting aside all her dignity once again in front of him.
A voice came from below, and when Jin Chengyan turned around, he saw Qiao Nuo kneeling on the ground. For some reason, his heart tightened, a pang of pain coursing through him.
This was how they were—constantly hurting each other. They both knew that their actions would lead to unbearable pain for the other, and they understood that if they could just endure a little longer, everything would pass. Yet, they never stopped their relentless cycle of hurt.
He crouched down and grasped Qiao Nuo's shoulders.
"Is there anything that can be done?" Jin Chengyan asked in a voice laced with torment.
Qiao Nuo nodded, tears falling in sync with the movement of her head, landing on the pristine carpet beneath her.
"Then let me ask you, have you slept with Xi Yisheng?"
"No."
After she spoke, Jin Chengyan lifted her chin and kissed her.
She should have pushed him away, but if she did, Qiao Kawai would be lost to her. This was his way of coercing her into submission.
He continued until her lips turned slightly red before finally releasing her.
"If you don't want to be my wife, then be my lover. When I'm done playing, we can talk."
He pushed Qiao Nuo down onto the white carpet, claiming her completely.
...
When Qiao Nuo woke up, she found herself in a guest room. Jin Chengyan had already gotten out of bed, dressed in a shirt, looking down at her from above with an imposing gaze.
"From now until I get bored, you will stay in this room. The room upstairs belongs to me and my wife." He deliberately spoke in a tone meant to humiliate her, forcing her to confront the reality of the situation.
Qiao Nuo pulled the blanket over her body and sat up in bed.
"I understand."
But Jin Chengyan suddenly leaned over, yanking the blanket away from her face.
Her chest was exposed, marked by his earlier actions, along with the remnants of the previous days' encounters, laid bare before him.
Qiao Nuo felt an overwhelming discomfort, wanting to cover her beauty but was restrained by Jin Chengyan's grip on her hand.
"Remember, your body is mine now. I have the right to see what I want at any time." He was venting his dissatisfaction, releasing the pent-up resentment he had been holding.
Slowly, Qiao Nuo lowered her hand, allowing her body to be fully revealed to Jin Chengyan.
So much had changed.
Jin Chengyan would no longer be gentle with her; in fact, he was even harsher than before.
When they were in bed, he no longer considered her feelings. It was all about release, each thrust penetrating deep into her soul.
Afterward, he wouldn’t hold her close or shower her with tender affection; he would simply push her away and retreat alone to the bathroom.
He said that those things could only be done with his wife.
She was merely a mistress, unworthy of such treatment.
"I understand," Qiao Nuo replied, nodding. It seemed that for now, these four words were all she could muster in response to him.
Jin Chengyan was dissatisfied with what he saw. He reached for the back of Qiao Nuo's head, gently but firmly grasping her hair, forcing her to look up at him.
"Don't give me that expression. I'm about to go into surgery to extract bone marrow for Qiao Kawai. Shouldn't you be smiling at me?" he asked, his tone demanding.
What more did he want from her?
Even in this situation, he expected her to face him with a smile?
Wasn't he being a bit too domineering?
"Smile, is it?" Qiao Nuo said, and then she forced a smile at Jin Chengyan. It was a heart-wrenching smile that tugged at the heartstrings.
Jin Chengyan immediately released his grip on her head and stepped back, creating some distance between them.
"I have a social engagement tonight. Once this matter is resolved, I'll prepare for the surgery. If I don't see you when I return tonight..." Jin Chengyan's voice trailed off, but Qiao Nuo understood the implications.
She nodded. Everything she was doing now was without thought; as long as she complied with Jin Chengyan, he would save Qiao Kawai!
All she had to do was meet his expectations—there was no need to think about anything else.
After Jin Chengyan left, Qiao Nuo lay on the bed, slowly processing the fact that she had become entangled with him once again.
It was fine; she just had to wait until he grew tired of her. She didn't believe she was unique to Jin Chengyan—once he lost interest, he would naturally let go!
But for now, there were some things that needed to come to an end.
She took a shower, standing clean and fresh in her room. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window was a newly renovated view. Qiao Nuo opened her phone and found Xi Yisheng's number.
Xi Yisheng always answered her calls immediately.
“Yi Sheng, I’m sorry, but I won’t marry you anymore.” Qiao Nuo thought back to when he left for Italy, to the promises he made to her, which she had accepted.
But unexpectedly, everything changed in such a short time.
There was silence on the other end for two seconds before he replied, “Qiao Nuo, you are still Qiao Nuo, right?”
Xi Yisheng had rarely called her "Qiao Nuo." He always believed that after her rebirth, she should be called Faye, a brand new version of herself.
Only the old Qiao Nuo would hesitate and get entangled in the emotional whirlpool with Jin Chengyan.
“I’m sorry. A thousand apologies can’t make up for what I’ve done, but you deserve someone better. I’m not worthy of you.”
“There’s never been a question of worthiness; it’s only about whether you’re willing. You ultimately chose Jin Chengyan, didn’t you?” Xi Yisheng's voice carried a hint of defeat.
If it was because he had gone back to Italy to handle family matters that allowed Jin Chengyan to take advantage, then he had truly learned the meaning of the phrase "a fire in the backyard."
How could the vast Xi Family suddenly come under attack? With gangs targeting them and the government cracking down hard, it was all too sudden and coincidental.
Xi Yisheng didn’t believe in such coincidences.
Thinking about it, there was only one reason: Jin Chengyan didn’t want him to stay by Qiao Nuo’s side.
“Thank you, goodbye.” Qiao Nuo hung up. If she continued talking, she didn’t know if Xi Yisheng would catch on to something.
It was not that she chose Jin Chengyan, but rather that Jin Chengyan forced her to take this path.
If she had to maintain contact with Xi Yisheng while being pushed into this situation, she would truly be a sight to behold, and even she would despise herself.
Before she became even worse, she needed to distance them all from herself.
Qiao Nuo closed her eyes, unable to imagine how difficult the days ahead would be.
---
“A Yan, you’ve had enough to drink today!” Yan An City snatched the bottle from Jin Chengyan's hands and set it aside.
He knew that Qiao Nuo's return had touched a nerve in Jin Chengyan, and so the things he had done during this time could hardly be described as rational. But drinking too much was truly harmful!
Jin Chengyan tilted his head back and downed the contents of his glass in one go.
There was too much frustration that he couldn’t articulate; he could only drown it in alcohol.
Seeing Jin Chengyan drink like this, Yan An City couldn’t help but join in and have a few more drinks himself.
Who didn’t have a pile of worries these days? Who could remain unscathed?
Jin Chengyan finally noticed that something was off with Yan An City as well. Half-drunk and half-awake, he asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
He had never seen a look of disappointment on Yan An City’s face before. This person always had food and drink, wandering around, living a comfortable life.
If there was anything wrong, it was the sudden disappearance of Yan Beiting four years ago, which had caused him to lose an older brother and forced him into the role of someone whom the elders felt they needed to supervise.
"Isn't it all because of Brother San? He disappeared out of nowhere, and I have no interest in managing things!"
Jin Chengyan's mind cleared as he recalled that a while ago, Yan LaoyezI had asked him to look into Yan Beiting's whereabouts. He had completely forgotten about it due to the situation with Qiao Nuo.
Hearing Yan An City mention it today jogged his memory.
However, Jin Chengyan had always been skeptical about this matter.
Yan Beiting wasn't someone who would just vanish without a trace. Yet, four years ago, he disappeared without a word, leaving no clues behind. He wasn't the type like Yan An City, who lived a carefree life seeking freedom. Did he really intend to experience a life of poverty and run off to Africa? To live in isolation?
"A Yan, I've always felt... Brother San is already... dead." Yan An City said, holding his wine glass, his expression somewhat dazed as he spoke.
Jin Chengyan's heart skipped a beat; this thought had crossed his mind more than once.
Yet, he always believed in the saying that one must see the living or the dead.
Look, Qiao Nuo had returned safe and sound; he believed Yan Beiting should still be alive too.
"What nonsense are you talking about? If your grandfather hears this, won't he beat you to death?" Jin Chengyan interrupted Yan An City's wild thoughts.
"Let him beat me; I don't care about the company anymore!" Yan An City shrugged off his worries. "But you—your sister-in-law is back. Why do you still look so troubled?"
The conversation inevitably circled back to Qiao Nuo, leaving Jin Chengyan at a loss.
He truly had no way to deal with Qiao Nuo and even came up with this method to keep her by his side.
When he first voiced that idea, even he was startled by himself.
Even if Qiao Nuo hadn't said anything, when Qi Ziluo informed him that Qiao Kawai's biological mother was unable to provide a transplant, he had already prepared himself for the surgery.
However, with Qiao Nuo showing up, all his actions became unmanageable.
He glanced at the time; it was about time to return to Jin Mansion. He wondered if Qiao Nuo would still be there.
"Leaving?" Yan An City looked at Jin Chengyan and asked.
"Yes, heading home." Jin Chengyan specifically used the words "heading home," indicating that only where Qiao Nuo was felt like home to him.
"Since you're leaving, I guess I should go too!" Yan An City rubbed his temples and stood up, ready to leave with Jin Chengyan.
Both of them had decent drinking capacities, but they had consumed quite a bit of alcohol that night. As they stepped outside, their feet struggled to maintain a straight line.
As they walked, someone approached them. Although it seemed like the person intended to avoid them, they ended up colliding directly.
Jin Chengyan was knocked against the wall. He couldn't tell if it was because the other person was too strong or if he simply lacked strength at that moment.
It felt like he grabbed onto something—likely a person's arm.
Jin Chengyan thought he had caught hold of Yan An City, but upon getting closer, he involuntarily exclaimed, "Yan San?"
The man in black clothes who had been caught by Jin Chengyan paused slightly. He steadied Jin Chengyan and helped him stand upright.
"Sorry, sir, you've mistaken me for someone else." A deep, hoarse voice reached Jin Chengyan's ears.
It was indeed not Yan Beiting's voice; he had made a mistake.
He shyly released the man's hand, intending to look for Yan An City, but he couldn't find him.
When he turned back, he noticed that the man was still standing there.
Having just made a mistake in recognition, Jin Chengyan apologized. While waiting for Yan An City, he said to the man, "Your eyes really remind me of a friend of mine..."
The man smiled slightly. "Sir, if you have nothing else, I’ll be on my way." Seeing the slightly intoxicated Jin Chengyan, he felt no concern.
"Okay." Jin Chengyan nodded and watched the man leave.
They looked so alike—too much alike. The gaze was identical to Yan Beiting's. Even after all these years, Jin Chengyan couldn't forget it.
But apart from those eyes, there was nothing else about him that resembled Yan Beiting.
When Yan An City returned, he saw Jin Chengyan staring blankly in one direction. He had just gone to throw up; after drinking so much, it was no surprise.
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and go home. I have a meeting tomorrow morning. Nine to five—what nonsense! Whoever wants to be a boss can go ahead..." Amidst Yan An City's complaints, Jin Chengyan snapped back to reality.
Seeing Yan An City get into the car sent by the Yan Family, he finally got into his own car, with A Shan driving.
Jin Chengyan closed his eyes, resting his hand on the window. He rolled down the window and let the cool breeze in.
"After all these years, you're the only one still by my side," Jin Chengyan's voice showed no trace of intoxication; he must have sobered up.
"Young Master..." A Shan glanced at Jin Chengyan's face through the rearview mirror. "Drinking is harmful to your health."
Jin Chengyan rubbed his temples. Over the past four years, he had lost count of how much alcohol he had consumed and how many times he had suffered from alcohol poisoning or gastric bleeding that required hospitalization. He always claimed it was due to socializing or work.
Why does the esteemed President Jin still need to drink to make money?
The reasons are all too clear.
"No matter how much it hurts, it can't be worse than here." Jin Chengyan placed a hand over his heart, where a dull ache lingered, refusing to fade.
A Shan felt helpless; he could sense the bittersweet complexities of love through Jin Chengyan.
"I dare not taste the flavor of love," A Shan teased, though his tone was tinged with deep melancholy.
"What do you know? Only by loving can life be perfect."
"Knowing it will hurt, yet still diving in headfirst without hesitation! If given another chance, would you still be with Miss Qiao?"
"I would." Jin Chengyan answered without hesitation. "And I wouldn't use those underhanded methods. I would openly be with her, making her the happiest woman in the world, ensuring she feels that being with me is a joyful experience."
In his mind, he painted a beautiful picture, as if he had truly experienced it.
If it weren't for A Shan's whistle, Jin Chengyan's beautiful dream might have continued.
Waking up, everything returned to reality.
Jin Chengyan rubbed his temples again; the effects of the alcohol were starting to kick in.
"A Shan, how's the investigation on Yan San coming along?"
At the mention of this matter, A Shan's expression turned serious.
“On the day Yan San Shao went missing, it just so happened to be the day Miss Qiao…”
“I don’t like hearing you call her Miss Qiao,” Jin Chengyan interrupted A Shan for no reason other than to correct his address.
“Alright. That day was also the day Young Madam went missing. You don’t believe that Young Madam could have perished in the fire, so you asked me to investigate. However, all the city’s road surveillance cameras malfunctioned that day; the footage from that hour was entirely hacked and destroyed, so we couldn’t find any trace of Young Madam, and naturally, we couldn’t find Yan San Shao either.”
Initially, A Shan hadn’t connected the case of Yan Beiting with that of Qiao Nuo. It was only after Jin Chengyan suggested he look into Yan Beiting’s whereabouts that he started to consider both cases together.
It was only when he combined the two cases that he discovered so many discrepancies.
“Moreover, someone saw Yan San Shao’s car at the hospital just before the explosion.”
Jin Chengyan suddenly snapped to attention, looking at A Shan, who was driving.
“How could he have gone to the hospital?” The revelation of something unknown from four years ago left him shocked.
“The person you asked me to investigate, Xi Yisheng, the head of the Italian Mafia, was a close friend of Yan San Shao. However, due to Xi Yisheng’s identity, Yan San Shao has never publicly acknowledged their relationship.”
Upon hearing this, Jin Chengyan began to connect the dots.
“Qiao Nuo was able to leave the hospital thanks to help from Yan San. He then entrusted her care to Xi Yisheng. But… what about Yan San?” This question lingered in his mind, leaving him puzzled.
It was true that Yan Beiting had feelings for Qiao Nuo. If he truly wanted to keep her away from Jin Chengyan, why would he hand her over to Xi Yisheng?
What about Yan Beiting himself?
“This is something I’ve been trying to figure out as well. Where exactly did Yan San Shao go? Perhaps asking Young Madam would yield more direct answers,” suggested A Shan.
"Thinking about asking Qiao Nuo about the past four years, she definitely wouldn't be happy about it."
"This is something I asked you to investigate, yet you're giving me orders."
"I know I was wrong," A Shan replied.
Jin Chengyan turned away, visibly irritated.
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