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"Did you make an appointment with Alice after turning left out the door?"
When Qiao Nuo heard this, she noticed the distant expression on his face. Yes, they were now strangers; why should Jin Chengyan answer her questions or fulfill her requests?
However, when it came to Yan Beiting, Qiao Nuo couldn't afford to hesitate with Jin Chengyan. Forget about making appointments or being strangers; she needed to ask about this matter first!
"Tell me why you told Yan An City that Yan Beiting died from a stray bullet in Africa. What else do you know?" Qiao Nuo stepped forward, standing just across the desk from Jin Chengyan. Yet, she felt as if an entire galaxy separated them.
Jin Chengyan slightly raised his head, looking at Qiao Nuo as if she were an ordinary person.
"By what right do you question me about Yan San? As his friend? Sorry, I didn't know he had a friend like you. A lover? Are you Yan San's lover? I don't know that either. So what exactly gives you the right to inquire about Yan San's whereabouts?" Jin Chengyan questioned her coldly, each word devoid of compassion.
Qiao Nuo adjusted her breathing to keep her emotions in check. Her hands gripped the edge of the desk tightly as she fought to remain calm.
"Four years ago, after Yan Beiting brought me out of the operating room, he went back in and was later carried out after an explosion by Ye Yun. Now you say he died in Africa—what do you really know? Did he not die four years ago at all?" Qiao Nuo couldn't comprehend the situation; who was telling the truth?
Unbeknownst to her, Jin Chengyan had already stood up from his chair and walked around the desk to stand before her. He grasped her arm tightly, pain shooting through her, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"What if he's alive? Would you throw yourself at him? Grateful for him saving you from the operating room four years ago, giving you a chance to return and then repaying me double?"
Qiao Nuo frowned at the pain in her arm but did not pull away from Jin Chengyan's grip.
"Why do you have to think so poorly and so dirty of people? Can't I hope that Yan Beiting is still alive? Do you want to watch your long-time friend disappear from this world without a trace?" Qiao Nuo was exhausted—truly exhausted. If it weren't for her suspicion regarding Yan Beiting's situation, she would never have stepped foot into Jin Chengyan's office again.
It seemed that something in her words struck a chord with Jin Chengyan, and he released her.
Without his support, Qiao Nuo leaned heavily against the desk, feeling weak and… pain.
"You think I don't know what he did for you? If I told the Yan Family about this, do you think they would believe their Young Master Yan died protecting a woman or that he sacrificed himself for a noble cause? Weigh that for yourself!"
Qiao Nuo sank into the chair at the desk. Jin Chengyan's words echoed in her ears. If she had held onto some hope that Yan Beiting was still alive moments ago, now Jin Chengyan's words confirmed that he could not be alive.
He knew—he knew that Yan Beiting had died in an explosion four years ago—but to prevent the Yan Family from thinking he died in vain, he fabricated such a story.
Pain surged through her body, and Qiao Nuo felt as if she could hardly breathe.
The second time receiving the news of Yan Beiting's death was even more suffocating than the first. Memories of those days four years ago, when she had relied on medication to survive, resurfaced in Qiao Nuo's mind.
Jin Chengyan watched as Qiao Nuo collapsed into a chair, trembling and struggling in agony. He longed to hold her, to comfort her, to support her.
Yet, Jin Chengyan's hand hovered in the air, ultimately not resting on Qiao Nuo's shoulder.
Knock, knock, knock—someone was at the office door.
Did they all decide today was the day to come and discuss life with Jin Chengyan?
He turned away. "Who is it?"
Gathering her courage, Alice opened the office door. As soon as she did, she felt the oppressive atmosphere inside.
But outside stood a formidable presence that Alice didn’t know how to handle.
"President, Miss Yun is here." The future Jin Family Young Mistress, recognized even by the old lady—look at how their president seemed at a loss; otherwise, how would such news have come to light?
Jin Chengyan turned slightly and caught sight of Qiao Nuo’s body trembling ever so slightly. Did she stiffen upon hearing the name Miss Yun?
"Let her in."
"Yes." Alice left the door ajar as she went out to fetch Yun Xin.
Inside the office, Qiao Nuo had certainly heard Alice mention "Miss Yun." She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself.
"Sorry for interrupting," she said, having received the answer she sought. She stood up, preparing to leave.
Before she could fully rise, Miss Yun entered swiftly through the door. The collision was unavoidable.
Yun Xin paused for a moment, taken aback by the scene before her. She had unexpectedly encountered Jin Chengyan’s ex-wife—should she retreat or step forward?
However, Jin Chengyan knew that Qiao Nuo was inside, yet he still let her in. Was he trying to avoid giving her any misunderstandings? Did he no longer have feelings for his ex-wife? Was it really like that...
"A Yan, Aunt told me that you like brownies, but the ones from outside are too sweet, so I made some with just a little sugar. I hope they suit your taste," Yun Xin walked in, acting like the hostess. "Miss Qiao, since you're here, why don't you stay and try them? Let's see if my cooking matches A Yan's taste better than yours."
"Hmph," Jin Chengyan scoffed coldly.
This scoff left Yun Xin feeling somewhat perplexed. Was there something she did wrong?
However, Qiao Nuo understood. After all, she had cooked for Jin Chengyan only a handful of times, and she didn’t even know that he liked brownies.
"Miss Qiao has too many things to care about; how could she possibly pay attention to what her ex-husband likes to eat?" Jin Chengyan said lightly. "Do you want to stay and try Yun Xin's cooking? I remember you don’t know how to bake."
Qiao Nuo turned around and looked at the paper box on the desk. When she opened it, the aroma of the cake wafted through the office.
A virtuous wife and good mother—nothing more than this.
Caught in the moment of hospitality, it was hard to refuse. Qiao Nuo returned to her seat, waiting for Yun Xin to bring over a plate with the exquisite pastries and brew coffee—black coffee for Jin Chengyan and a latte for Qiao Nuo.
Look at how a virtuous wife knows Jin Chengyan's preferences so well.
She was even generous enough to let the ex-wife sit down and share the snacks.
Didn’t that make her uncomfortable?
Qiao Nuo certainly felt uncomfortable as she tastelessly nibbled on the brownie.
Why did she stay? Because just moments ago, Qiao Nuo had seen legal documents related to the company on Jin Chengyan's desk. This matter hadn’t been resolved at all; if Jin really intended to take the company to court, it would be a major scandal for Qin Cheng.
Those documents were openly laid out on the desk in front of Qiao Nuo, the head of this company. Was Jin Chengyan being careless or was it intentional?
"How is it? Does it suit your taste?" Yun Xin sat right next to Qiao Nuo but leaned slightly forward, closing the distance between herself and Jin Chengyan. It seemed their intimacy was definitely greater than that between Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan.
Who could argue otherwise? After all, Yun Xin was currently the most popular candidate for the title of Jin Family Young Mistress.
Qiao Nuo was nothing more than an outdated ex-wife; the distinction between importance and insignificance was clear.
"Yes, it's delicious," Jin Chengyan gave a high praise.
From what Qiao Nuo knew about Jin Chengyan, he wasn't the type of man who sought high culinary standards. He generally thought that as long as it filled his stomach, it was good enough. Unless it was a special occasion, he preferred simple meals.
He had little demand for dishes and even less for their evaluation.
Was he trying to impress his new girlfriend?
Once Qiao Nuo realized this, she suddenly felt like a massive third wheel in this situation.
It hurt her heart!
Seeing the man she deeply loved getting along so well with another woman—if that didn't hurt, it would mean she had never loved him at all.
"I'm sorry." In the end, Qiao Nuo put down her fork and left in embarrassment.
After Qiao Nuo left, Jin Chengyan also set down his fork, took a napkin to wipe his mouth, and glanced at the brownie on the table that Qiao Nuo had barely touched.
The cake was indeed delicious; however, no matter how good it was, it held no meaning now.
"A Yan?" Yun Xin tried to call out to Jin Chengyan. Just moments ago, Qiao Nuo had suddenly run off, and since then, Jin Chengyan seemed lost in thought, not even touching the brownie she made.
But hadn’t they already divorced? Was there still some lingering emotion?
"Alice, see her out," Jin Chengyan said directly as he pressed the intercom on the table to have Alice come in and escort them out.
A hint of anger surfaced on Yun Xin's pale face, but she couldn't vent it towards Jin Chengyan at all.
This was Jin Chengyan; who would dare to lose their temper at him?
In the end, Yun Xin could only leave dejectedly. It was fine; she still had Yu Xin backing her up. Jin Chengyan listened to Yu Xin so much—would he really go against his mother's arranged marriage?
After everyone had left, only Jin Chengyan remained in the office. Habitually, he turned his large chair around and sat down. In front of him was a vast floor-to-ceiling window, offering a view of the scenery of Qin Cheng. Beneath him lay the city he could manipulate at will.
However, this imposing Jin Chengyan had stumbled over the matter concerning Qiao Nuo, an experience he found utterly incomprehensible in his life.
The appearance of Yan Beiting and everything he was told left him unable to grasp it fully. At that time, Yan Beiting had been so adamant about tearing their relationship apart just to make Qiao Nuo leave him, and it was what Qiao Nuo herself desired.
No matter how many times he explained that he did not want to harm her but merely wanted to take the knife from her hand, it made no difference.
What she pursued was no longer just that knife but everything he had done to her.
Was it true that all he brought to Qiao Nuo was pain? Was there not a single moment of happiness?
Surely not!
He had taught Qiao Nuo how to love!
Jin Chengyan took a deep breath, resting one hand on the arm of his chair to support his head.
…
Qiao Nuo ran out of Jin's Building, sprinting until she felt her stamina could no longer keep up with her pace. Only then did she stop, crouching down on the ground and gasping for breath.
This was why she wanted to leave quickly—she could not bear to see him with any woman, could not tolerate his kindness towards others, nor could she endure his amiable demeanor with anyone but herself.
Her possessiveness was particularly strong; what was hers should not be touched by anyone else, yet she had no desire to claim what belonged to others.
So when she saw Jin Chengyan and Yun Xin getting along so well, Qiao Nuo felt her eyes must have been red with jealousy at that moment.
But what right did she have?
Having divorced Jin Chengyan and vowed never to have any contact again!
What was there to be angry about?
Even sadness was something she could no longer afford to feel.
"Miss, are you alright?" A shadow appeared in front of Qiao Nuo, blocking the harsh sunlight.
The voice seemed to come from another world. Qiao Nuo slowly regained her senses and looked up. The figure was facing away from the sun, but as she raised her head, her vision blurred due to a lack of blood flow, and she collapsed to the side.
"Qiao Nuo—" The man quickly crouched down, catching her before she hit the ground and her head struck the concrete.
Everything around her felt hazy, as if all sounds were coming from a distant planet. She grasped onto something, as if it were a lifeline, but it felt like...
"Yan Beiting..." Qiao Nuo's hand slipped from the man's sleeve, and she closed her eyes completely, losing consciousness.
"Qiao Nuo!" Yan Beiting patted her face, noticing that her skin felt cold and her hands were icy.
He had seen Qiao Nuo run out of Jin, sprinting frantically until she finally collapsed. How could she faint like this?
He wanted to lift Qiao Nuo into his arms, but as he exerted himself slightly, he felt a tightness in his chest that made it hard to breathe. Even the slightest movement was uncomfortable.
The aftereffects of the explosion had left him in terrible shape. Although he had survived, his body was suffering. Just a couple of days ago, after playing basketball with Jin Chengyan, he had started showing signs of fever on the way home and was immediately taken to the hospital by Ye Yun, where he was forced to stay for two days.
Now, he didn’t even have the strength to pick up Qiao Nuo.
Ye Yun arrived shortly after and, seeing the situation, immediately lifted Qiao Nuo into her arms. Unable to hold back, she said to Yan Beiting, "I can see that unless you put your life on the line for Qiao Nuo, you won't rest easy." With that, Ye Yun carried Qiao Nuo toward the car.
Watching Ye Yun effortlessly carry Qiao Nuo made Yan Beiting's heart ache infinitely in that moment.
The embrace he couldn't provide, the happiness he couldn't give—this had been true before and remained true now.
As the car drove down the road, Ye Yun glanced at Yan Beiting in the rearview mirror. His anxious expression regarding Qiao Nuo made her sigh involuntarily.
"Are we going to the hospital or somewhere else?"
"The hospital." Where else could they go?
“Actually, we really don’t need to worry about Qiao Nuo anymore. Haven’t you done enough for her in the past four years? Knowing that there’s no possibility between you two, why do you still want to play matchmaker for Jin Chengyan? Yan Beiting, can’t you be selfish just this once? Even if Qiao Nuo doesn’t like you, what’s so difficult about keeping her by your side?”
“Ye Yun, stop talking. Let’s get her to the hospital and then leave Qin Cheng.” Never to return.
Hearing Yan Beiting say this, Ye Yun finally calmed down a bit and drove steadily toward the hospital.
In the back seat, Yan Beiting lay next to Qiao Nuo. Did she recognize him before she fainted?
Or did Jin Chengyan tell her?
No, Jin Chengyan promised him not to tell anyone, so he wouldn’t say a word. He would never reveal anything to Qiao Nuo.
No one could bear having someone leave their side twice forever.
Why choose Jin Chengyan? It wasn’t because he was unbreakable and wouldn’t feel sad; it was simply that among so many people, Yan Beiting trusted him the most.
Despite their past, when they had fallen apart for various reasons, ultimately, no one understood him better than Jin Chengyan.
“Yan Beiting… Yan Beiting…” Qiao Nuo whispered in pain, as if four years ago she wanted to grasp him, but he was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, leaving her unable to reach out. She could only call his name, believing that by doing so, he wouldn’t leave her.
In the last moment before closing her eyes, Qiao Nuo thought she saw Yan Beiting. Memories flooded her mind; now trapped in this dream, she could only grasp a corner of his clothing as a form of comfort.
“I’m here.” Yan Beiting held Qiao Nuo’s hand.
Feeling the warmth of his hand, Qiao Nuo held on tightly, reluctant to let go.
To hear her anxiously call his name was worth everything.
“Yan Beiting…” Her furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and her grip loosened slightly. “Goodbye…” She had never said goodbye before; today, hearing the truth from Jin Chengyan’s lips, Qiao Nuo finally believed that Yan Beiting had left her forever.
The pain that had been suppressed in her heart for so many years and the wounds that couldn’t be released ultimately needed a farewell.
Yan Beiting was slightly taken aback. But wasn’t this the result he had wanted?
With a final goodbye, Qiao Nuo let him go, and in doing so, she freed herself.
“Qiao Nuo, it’s really time to say goodbye,” he said, gently caressing her cheek. It was the first time in all these years that they were so close, as if he were a partner, tenderly touching her face.
After this, such opportunities would be gone forever.
…
When Qiao Nuo woke up, she found herself in a hospital room. The faint smell of disinfectant filled her nostrils, making her feel somewhat uneasy.
She tried to struggle to sit up, but her legs and back ached. She suddenly remembered running out of Jin Chengyan's office and then fainting. A man had brought her to the hospital.
She thought she heard the name “Yan Beiting.” Could it have been a mistake?
“Qiao Nuo, you’re awake! You scared me to death!” Ji Xining rushed over as soon as she received the doctor’s call. Ever since leaving Yan Beiting's grave that day, she felt something was off with Qiao Nuo, and now here she was in the hospital!
With Ji Xining's help, Qiao Nuo sat up.
“I…” Her throat felt dry, and Ji Xining quickly poured her a glass of water.
After drinking most of the water, Qiao Nuo felt a bit more comfortable. “Who brought me to the hospital?”
“The ambulance. They said you fainted by the roadside, and a passerby called for help. How could you faint by the roadside? You must never go out alone again; it’s too dangerous!” Ji Xining still seemed shaken.
Qiao Nuo nodded, realizing it was indeed the ambulance.
But she distinctly remembered a man. Had she misremembered? Or was it just a dream?
“You need to take good care of yourself and not overexert yourself. Leave taking care of Qiao Kawai to Qiao Chen. It’s best if you go to Switzerland soon; the air there is good. But staying here… with your pregnancy being so unstable, can your body handle a long flight?” Ji Xining rambled on, and at first, Qiao Nuo didn’t quite grasp what she was saying.
However, she clearly understood the word “pregnancy.”
“Xi Ning, I… I’m pregnant?” Qiao Nuo looked at Ji Xining in disbelief.
It was impossible. After that miscarriage and the subsequent damage from medication, the doctor had declared that she was basically destined to never become a mother. But what Ji Xining had just said...
“Yes, Qiao Nuo, you are pregnant. But you must take good care of yourself. The doctor told me that your health is particularly poor, and you’ve had a miscarriage before. If you don’t protect yourself well, not only the child but even your own life could be at risk.” Ji Xining furrowed her brows, seeming hesitant and worried. “There really is a risk. Perhaps, Qiao Nuo, you should consider not keeping this child? After all, you already have Qiao Kawai, and it’s clear that you and Jin Chengyan... can never be together.”
Qiao Nuo seemed to hear nothing else. She placed her hand on her abdomen, where there was indeed another little baby. Was it the same baby from before that hadn’t had the chance to stay?
This time, Qiao Nuo wouldn’t let it leave so easily!
“Qiao Nuo, listen to me!” Qiao Nuo didn’t hear what the doctor said, so she didn’t realize how dangerous her situation was, but Ji Xining did!
“Xi Ning, I want this child. I really want it.” Qiao Nuo grasped Ji Xining’s hand and gently placed it on her abdomen. “Feel it; it’s alive and precious. I want it to see the sunlight of this world, to experience its beauty. It will be the happiest child in the world, born amidst blessings and gratitude. Isn’t it wonderful? Can you feel it?”
Tears streamed down Ji Xining’s face as she couldn’t care less about anything else; she just wanted her Qiao Nuo. She embraced Qiao Nuo, crying.
“Qiao Nuo, do you know that if you decide to have this baby, you might die?”
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