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墨書 Inktalez
Qiao Nuo had never really thought about how much money she wanted from Jin Chengyan. Previously, she had only said it to provoke him, claiming she wanted a substantial amount, even half of his fortune.
Now, holding these items in her hands felt like carrying a hot potato.
However, if she returned them, she would inevitably run into Jin Chengyan again. For now, she could only temporarily keep these things at home, but the documents were not signed.
After putting the files away, she forgot about the matter entirely and went on a picnic with Qiao Kawai the next day.
On their way back home, they noticed a car parked outside. As they approached, the car door opened and a girl with short hair stepped out.
It had been four years since they last met, but Qiao Nuo recognized Ji Xining at a glance. Although she had cut her hair short, she looked even more capable and refreshing.
Upon seeing Qiao Nuo, Ji Xining immediately ran up to her and hugged her tightly.
"Qiao Nuo! Do you know how happy I was when I found out you were alive? I rushed back to find you! You’re so bad for tricking all of us! Do you know that when I thought you were dead, I cried until my eyes were swollen? I’ve never cried like that for anyone else!" Ji Xining held Qiao Nuo tightly.
Qiao Nuo patted Ji Xining's back. "I’m sorry for worrying you. But at that time, I had my reasons. Now I'm back safe and sound! If you want to find me in the future, you can."
After teasing Qiao Nuo for a while, Ji Xining finally let go of her.
"What a cute girl! Is she your daughter?" Ji Xining asked, reaching out to ruffle Qiao Kawai's hair. "Is she... Jin Chengyan's?" The last three words were whispered softly, as if afraid Qiao Kawai might overhear.
"Don’t say that. This little cutie is my daughter; she has nothing to do with anyone else." In front of Qiao Kawai, Qiao Nuo would never say that she was her sister; she worried that the girl wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Moreover, that secret was better left buried deep within her heart.
Ji Xining nodded and didn’t ask further questions, but she already understood something in her heart.
At that moment, Qiao Nuo noticed Ji Nuan Yang standing at the back of the car.
They had met years ago over a dress, and he had helped her with many things since then. She believed their friendship was particularly strong, even though they had lost contact later on.
"Pretty sister, is that Handsome Uncle your husband?" Qiao Kawai leaned against Qiao Nuo's leg, smiling brightly at Ji Nuan Yang.
After all, Qiao Kawai was a little girl with no resistance to handsome men.
Ji Xining chuckled, "You should call me Godmother. I made a deal with your mom that her daughter would be my Goddaughter! That over there is your godfather..."
Ji Xining squatted down and whispered in Qiao Kawai's ear.
Qiao Kawai tilted her head back, looking at Qiao Nuo, unsure if she should call her Godmother.
In fact, Qiao Nuo was just as confused; after all, she had never discussed with Ji Xining about her child being her Goddaughter.
But it was fine to say it now, right?
"Um, call her Godmother."
"Godmother, hello!" Qiao Kawai waved her hand and suddenly ran over to Ji Nuan Yang, sweetly calling out, "Hello, godfather!"
Qiao Nuo: "…"
Xi Ning: "…"
The four of them returned to the villa. Qiao Kawai wanted to play with her godfather while Qiao Nuo and Xi Ning were in the kitchen cutting fruits, but really, they were just chatting.
"Qiao Nuo, that little cutie is really..." Ji Xining was still quite interested in this topic.
"You are so nosy! Besides, if she really is from the Jin Family, do you think the Jin Family would let her be with me so easily?"
"So it's not you and Jin Chengyan, but you and someone else?" This made it even harder for Ji Xining to accept! "You don’t know? When everyone thought you had exploded and died, only Jin Chengyan didn’t believe it!"
It seemed that no one had ever told Qiao Nuo about how Jin Chengyan had coped after the explosion, or perhaps Qiao Nuo chose to ignore that part of history. All she remembered was how she had emerged from those four years of darkness.
"I was here at that time, so I know he nearly exhausted all the resources of the Jin Family to find you! You know, on the day of the explosion, you were in surgery, and Ruan Shengyu was also in surgery. Later, Ruan Shengyu was burned to a crisp, and he didn’t even take a glance! After about a month, he was still tirelessly searching for you, but everyone said you must have died. I don’t know if it was too much for him to bear, but during that time, he looked particularly haggard and became a frequent visitor at the hospital.
"Later on, he thought you were with me and came to plead with me. You know? He really begged—he almost knelt down to ask where you were. But how would I know where you were? At that time, I thought he was going mad. I kept wondering if you were still alive and saw him like this for you, it would surely be painful."
The past unfolded before Qiao Nuo through Ji Xining's narration.
Ji Xining always emphasized how terrible her four years had been; however, Jin Chengyan hadn’t had a single good day either.
But...
"Xi Ning, all of this is in the past. He and I have moved on; whether good or bad, it has all drifted away with time. I will look forward, and there is no place for him in that future." She would not casually go back on her promise; she had wagered her entire life for Qiao Kawai.
It couldn’t be said that Yu Xin was heartless; it was the greatest effort a mother could make for her child.
She didn’t believe that Qiao Nuo would truly separate from Jin Chengyan after he donated bone marrow to Qiao Kawai. Thus, Qiao Nuo swore an oath.
If she ever went against Yu Xin’s vow and ended up with Jin Chengyan, Qiao Kawai would relapse into her old illness and die without a cure.
Such a harsh vow made Qiao Nuo feel as if her heart was being twisted with every word she spoke; it was excruciatingly painful. Even now, recalling it brought immense discomfort.
Having sworn on Qiao Kawai’s life made it even more impossible for her to be with Jin Chengyan. To alleviate Yu Xin’s worries, she agreed to let Jin Chengyan perform the surgery.
"Qiao Nuo, I know those feelings can’t just be brushed aside. If you force yourself to forget them, you won’t truly forget. Life is so short; why can’t we choose the life we want? Why must we live under the gaze of others?"
"Xi Ning!" Qiao Nuo patted Ji Xining's shoulder. "Are you acting on someone else's behalf? I’ve never seen you speak so eloquently before!"
Qiao Nuo cleverly shifted the topic, catching Xi Ning off guard.
“What are you talking about? That’s not true at all!” Xi Ning immediately retorted, “And who do you expect me to persuade you on behalf of?”
After four years apart, the girl had certainly improved her verbal skills! Otherwise, how could Qiao Nuo possibly keep up with her?
“So what about you and Nuan Yang?”
“Huh? What about Ji Nuan Yang and me? What could possibly be going on?” Ji Xining feigned ignorance.
“I can tell you’re not being honest. I noticed it four years ago. Don’t think I’m unaware of your little schemes!”
Caught off guard by the revelation, Ji Xining struggled to maintain her composure and quickly changed the subject. The two chatted about other topics before finally leaving the kitchen with a platter of fruit.
They found Qiao Kawai already asleep on the sofa, covered with a blanket, while Ji Nuan Yang gently patted her arm, resembling a seasoned caregiver.
“Nuan Yang, I didn’t know you were so good at taking care of kids!” Qiao Nuo raised an eyebrow. Although he wasn’t sure how far along Ji Xining and Ji Nuan Yang had come in their relationship, it was clear that if things continued this way, they would eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Just because I’ve never raised a pig doesn’t mean I haven’t seen one run.”
“If Qiao Kawai hears her handsome godfather calling her a pig, she’ll be heartbroken,” Qiao Nuo joked.
“She’ll understand me.”
Qiao Nuo and Ji Nuan Yang exchanged banter effortlessly while Ji Xining watched them, feeling like an outsider in their conversation.
However, it was her first time seeing Ji Nuan Yang being so patient with a child!
He would surely make a good father!
After this not-so-pure visit between Ji Nuan Yang and Ji Xining ended, Qiao Nuo felt a slight unease in his heart. Could it be that Jin Chengyan had changed his strategy and was trying to approach things indirectly?
He still hasn't given up?
But his scandal with another woman has already surfaced; how could he not have given up?
In any case, all of this made Qiao Nuo feel exceptionally strange.
Later, Ji Nuan Yang told her that Yan An City was also looking for Yan Beiting everywhere. Since Qiao Nuo and Yan Beiting had such a complicated relationship, Ji Nuan Yang asked if Qiao Nuo knew where Yan Beiting might be.
Mentioning Yan Beiting made Qiao Nuo's heart sink once again.
Xi Yisheng had said he witnessed the burial with his own eyes. Unless the person buried there was not Yan Beiting at all.
So where could Yan Beiting be? He had been so weak at that time; how could he possibly still be alive?
Yet she desperately hoped that he was still alive.
…
In the open-air gymnasium of the university town, a still agile figure was running on the court. Although his pace was no longer as swift as in his youth, his charisma remained undiminished.
The person on the court was Jin Chengyan. After all these years, whenever he felt particularly frustrated, playing a game of basketball could ease the tension in his heart.
But back then, it was with Yan Beiting, Qi Ziluo, and others. They would finish a game, take a shower, and then go out for drinks. Those youthful days were always spent recklessly sweating it out.
Now, he was alone.
Standing at the three-point line, he took a shot from a forty-five-degree angle and scored!
"Clap clap clap!" Applause erupted. Jin Chengyan turned around to see a man dressed in black long sleeves and pants, holding a basketball in his hand.
"Isn't it a bit lonely to play alone?" The man spoke, his handsome face appearing to be in his twenties.
Jin Chengyan was already in his thirties; would he lose to someone in their twenties?
He picked up his basketball and held it close, saying, "You can have the court. I'll finish my game." It wasn't that he was afraid of losing; it was just that at this moment, he didn't feel like playing with anyone else.
"Are you afraid of losing?" The man seemed intent on challenging Jin Chengyan's limits, his tone laced with provocation.
Of course, if Jin Chengyan were so easily angered, he wouldn't be the formidable figure he was in the business world.
"I was playing when you were still in diapers. Afraid of losing?" Jin Chengyan had already walked over to a nearby chair to organize his belongings.
The man stood in the center of the court, facing Jin Chengyan. "Then I'll give you a point."
"Then I'll give you a point." Those words made Jin Chengyan suddenly pause his actions. He seemed to recall many years ago, on this very court, when there was no plastic flooring—just concrete. Yet that group of young boys loved playing on such surfaces and made many friends through basketball.
Back then, someone had calmly said those same words to him.
"I'll give you a point."
Jin Chengyan turned to look at the man two meters away from him.
Similar height, similar demeanor, similar gaze.
But aside from that, there was nothing else the same.
He tossed the ball, sending it swiftly toward Jin Chengyan.
Jin Chengyan caught the ball immediately, signaling that he accepted the challenge!
The man on the court was no longer the refined individual seen in the office, dressed in a suit and tie, sipping coffee while staring at a computer.
The man on the court was fierce and bloodthirsty, especially in this one-on-one battle where his eyes were fixed solely on the hoop, focused only on winning!
Jin Chengyan was such a person; once he started, he had to win!
When the final shot swished through the net, Jin Chengyan's victory was already secured.
His hand remained suspended in the air, maintaining the elegant posture of his shot.
Suddenly, he heard a cough nearby.
Jin Chengyan turned to see a man bent over, clutching his abdomen and coughing, looking as if it might worsen.
He quickly ran over to the chair and grabbed an unopened bottle of mineral water for him.
The man accepted the water and took a sip, gradually regaining his composure. When he looked up, Jin Chengyan noticed his pale face.
"Indeed, you don't need me to let you win; you will win regardless," he said with a faint smile, though his voice sounded somewhat ethereal.
For a moment, Jin Chengyan felt as if memories were overlapping; he suddenly saw the shadow of Yan An City before him and froze!
Those eyes—they were too similar.
Realizing he had lost his composure, Jin Chengyan quickly averted his gaze, trying to calm the unsettling agitation within him.
It was impossible. Yan Grandpa had said that Yan Beiting was currently in Africa. He had sent people to search for him, and indeed there was someone named Yan Beiting over there.
This person merely had a pair of similar eyes.
"If you're fine, I'll be on my way." Jin Chengyan thought there was no reason to stay and take care of someone who had just provoked him.
As he turned to gather his things, he heard a voice behind him.
"A Yan."
In that moment, Jin Chengyan froze.
"It's me, Yan Beiting." After regaining his composure, Yan Beiting revealed his identity to Jin Chengyan.
Jin Chengyan was stunned for a second, then turned around to look at the unfamiliar man, his eyes filled with coldness.
"You'd better not be joking about this." Impersonating Yan Beiting should require some skill.
"Whether I'm joking or not, you should know very well. But I understand that you might find it hard to accept me like this right now, because I can hardly accept this version of myself either. But honestly, it's not bad—I'm better looking than before," he said without a hint of concern.
But how could such a brief exchange clarify everything?
Jin Chengyan had indeed harbored doubts before, but this appearance of Yan Beiting was beyond anything he could comprehend.
"Ye Yun is waiting for me over there." Yan Beiting pointed to Ye Yun, who was sitting in a car not far away. The window was rolled down, so Jin Chengyan could see him.
"If you still don't believe me, I can show you the scar on my back—the one I got for you."
That was something only a few people knew about, yet it came out of this man's mouth.
Then he lifted his shirt, exposing his entire back to Jin Chengyan's gaze. Besides the scar from the knife wound, there were also other marks resembling burn scars.
Two seconds later, Yan Beiting lowered his shirt and turned to face Jin Chengyan directly.
"The purpose of plastic surgery is simple: I was severely burned and couldn't bear to show my face without it," he said casually. "It was four years ago during that explosion; I was the one who saved Qiao Nuo."
Jin Chengyan's mind exploded with this revelation. Yan Beiting had returned, but he looked completely different.
He hadn’t been in Africa; the person who saved Qiao Nuo four years ago was him!
But he hadn’t been with Qiao Nuo during these four years, and Xi Yisheng was a friend of Yan Beiting!
All these pieces connected in Jin Chengyan's mind, swirling around chaotically.
He stepped forward, grabbing Yan Beiting by the collar. "So, do you dare to come back?" Yan Beiting always liked to involve himself in matters that had nothing to do with him.
Ten years ago, he had taken a knife for him; four years ago, he had saved Qiao Nuo!
Both times, it had nearly cost him his life!
Yan Beiting patted Jin Chengyan's hand, urging him to calm down.
"My health isn't great right now; playing basketball earlier drained me too much. If you keep this up, I might end up dying at your hands instead of from someone else's knife or the explosion!" Yan Beiting joked.
But he didn’t know that Jin Chengyan’s heart was already on the verge of breaking!
All his emotions surged within Jin Chengyan, tying everything together.
Qiao Nuo had survived because of Yan Beiting!
And he had sacrificed his own health to save Qiao Nuo’s life!
But if it hadn’t been for that explosion, when Jin Chengyan finished dealing with those people downstairs and went upstairs, he would have found an empty operating room.
Thinking of this, Jin Chengyan couldn't help but glare at Yan Beiting.
"Do you even know what you're doing?" He released him, noticing that he seemed a bit uncomfortable, a bit distressed.
The aftereffects of the burn?
"People who prioritize love above all else. You wouldn't understand," Yan Beiting said dismissively.
"Hmph!" Jin Chengyan scoffed twice. "Do you know how worried your family is about you? Do you know your grandfather is afraid to let anyone from the Yan Family find you and sent me to look for you instead? Love above all! Love is only love when it's mutual!"
In truth, when Jin Chengyan mentioned the Yan Family, Yan Beiting did feel a pang of discomfort, but it wasn't because he had lost his status as the heir of the Yan Family; it was because he felt sorry for his grandfather.
"As fellow heirs of wealthy families, you should understand that feeling all too well. My brother Er Ge was exiled by grandfather for various reasons, and now the burden falls on my shoulders. Do you have any idea how much hidden strife there is in this?"
Jin Chengyan fell silent. Indeed, the matters of the Yan Family were far more complicated than those of the Jin Family; everyone goes through periods of fatigue.
"Do you remember your dreams from when we were young? We used to boast that we would make it to the NBA. But now? As time drags on, even breathing becomes exhausting. Forget about the NBA; just touching a basketball has become a luxury. A Yan, my dream has never been to work in an office or be a wealthy heir. Dreams used to feel so distant, but now I want to pursue my own life." Although he didn't know how many years such a life could last.
Jin Chengyan sighed. Among them, it was Yan Beiting who had the most thoughts, yet he was also the first to take over the family business.
He had the courage and determination to cast everything aside; Jin Chengyan might not have that.
"But I didn't expect that you and Qiao Nuo would end up like this." The slight sarcasm reached Jin Chengyan's ears, and it was indeed infuriating!
"What? Now that I’m divorced from Qiao Nuo, are you planning to swoop in?"
"No, I'll leave that for you two to remarry. If I really made a move, do you think Qiao Nuo could escape my grasp?" He wouldn't be able to give Qiao Nuo happiness in his current state.
"Remarry?" Jin Chengyan repeated those two words, pondering how easy it would be to achieve.
Listening to Jin Chengyan's tone, there was an implication that everything was beyond saving.
---
Qiao Nuo stood in the cemetery, accompanied by Ji Xining.
“Qiao Nuo, who is Chris?” Ji Xining asked, looking at the English name on the tombstone, which lacked a photo. “Yan?”
This was Qiao Nuo's first visit to Yan Beiting's grave. The surroundings were desolate, not even a wilted flower in sight.
Had no one come to see him in four years?
“Xi Ning, do you think it would be too extreme if I had someone dig up this grave and take the ashes for DNA testing?” Qiao Nuo couldn't think of any other way to prove that the person inside was Yan Beiting.
But she just couldn't believe that the person inside was him; this was the only way to confirm it!
“Uh... that does sound a bit extreme. What kind of person makes you want to dig up someone’s grave?”
“Yan Beiting.”
“Yan Beiting? He... he’s dead? How could he...” Ji Xining pointed at the tombstone, her entire demeanor shocked.
“Right? You don’t believe he’s dead either, do you?”
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