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墨書 Inktalez
Jono felt as if the entire world had fallen silent, or perhaps it was just her who had automatically muted the sounds of this world, only seeing Jin Chengyan carrying Ruan Shengyu away.
Standing on the stage, she felt abandoned by everyone.
Especially at the moment when Jin Chengyan left, the look he gave her was particularly cold, as if he believed she was the worst person in the world.
Yet clearly, on the large screen behind her, there were images of Ruan Shengyu urging those villains to kill Jono!
All the cameras were focused on Jono, and chaos erupted in the audience. Fans screamed in disbelief; how could their goddess possibly be that despicable? What was going on with Jono?
The man who had just carried Ruan Shengyu offstage—who exactly was he?
This truly was the most captivating drama among the wealthy at year’s end!
Jasper watched Jono, who had become dazed, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
As a friend, and perhaps wanting to avenge Xining for that 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 leave with Ruan Shengyu at such a moment.
Just as he intended to step forward and take Jono away—having gone on stage with her—Jasper knew he needed to pull her out of this whirlwind quickly.
Unexpectedly, another man moved faster than him, almost at lightning speed rushing from backstage. He draped a blanket over Jono that he seemed to have pulled from nowhere and helped her quickly down from the stage!
Jono caught a faint scent of disinfectant from him.
Huo Yawen.
But Jono didn’t have the heart to think much about it; all she could think about was that Jin Chengyan still cared most for Ruan Shengyu.
In front of so many people, he chose to protect Ruan Shengyu. No matter how awkward it would be for his legitimate wife standing on stage, in a situation where he could only take one person away, he chose Jono.
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 reached its end!
The security inside held back the reporters trying to rush forward, while more security personnel came in to keep the frenzied fans at bay.
The fierce face of Ruan Shengyu was removed from the big screen; the person involved had already left!
But it was too late. So many investors present had seen it, and so many fans had witnessed it. What was even more terrifying was that this award ceremony was being broadcast live; countless viewers across the country had seen how their beloved goddess possessed a heart as venomous as a snake's!
They should feel sorry for Jono, 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 the 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!" Jasper handed the microphone to the two bewildered hosts and gracefully stepped off the stage to sit beside Xining.
Jasper held Xining's hand; his hand was warm, while hers felt cool.
She asked Jasper with some concern, "Is Jono okay?"
After thinking for a moment, Jasper replied, "It's hard to say she's fine."
In that kind of situation, how could she be okay? The only possibility was that she had never loved Jin Chengyan!
…
Jono sat inside a black SUV, with Huo Yawen draping a blanket over her and helping her lie down in the back seat. He drove out from 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 Jono was escorted by a handsome man.
In such circumstances, it was only natural for them to remain outside, not missing any clues.
They wouldn't let any car that emerged from the building slip by unnoticed.
When Huo Yawen, wearing frameless glasses and looking quite refined, drove out, the reporters swarmed around the vehicle, frantically snapping photos against the windshield.
However, upon seeing only one man inside with some clothes piled in the back seat, they realized that the person they were looking for was not in that car.
Gradually, they dispersed.
Huo Yawen let out a sigh of relief and restarted the car, leaving the scene behind.
As he drove to Nanshan Apartment, the security guard recognized Huo Yawen and allowed him to pass without hesitation.
Jono 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 Jono, he didn't inquire either; instead, he arranged a guest room for them.
Once inside the room, Jono sat on the sofa. Despite the air conditioning being set to a comfortable level, she felt no warmth at all.
"Jono, please say something. You're scaring me like this," Huo Yawen said as he crouched beside Jono's feet, holding her hand. It felt cold as if it had just been pulled from an ice cellar.
Jono 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.
But suddenly, Jono seemed to remember something. She tried to pull her phone out of her bag, but with the dress she was wearing, there were 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 Jono became, desperately tugging at her dress as if that would somehow conjure the phone out of thin air.
She knew she was battling against herself!
Huo Yawen grasped Jono's hand, which was tormenting herself, with a bit too much force, making it hard for her to break free.
"Tell me what you're looking for, and I'll help you find it!" Seeing Jono in such distress and the pallor on her face made Huo Yawen feel unbearable pain.
He had thought that Jono would be happy with Jin Chengyan, that she would forget those memories and be able to live joyfully.
But when Qiao Chen came to the hospital looking for him, he finally took the time to check on Jono's situation and realized that there were actually many conflicts between her and Jin Chengyan.
The wish he had for her happiness instantly transformed into an impulse to protect her.
Knowing she was in C City, he rushed over, eager to see her immediately.
Yet he witnessed such chaos!
When he saw Jin Chengyan take the stage, he thought he was going to take Jono away from that place of turmoil. However, he ended up leaving with Ruan Shengyu!
Clearly, Jono was the victim!
At that moment, Huo Yawen vowed to protect Jono and ensure that she wouldn't suffer even the slightest harm.
"Phone, phone!" Jono repeated those two words, her gaze unfocused and unable to concentrate.
Jono had no idea what to do, so Huo Yawen reluctantly handed her phone over to him. To her surprise, as soon as Jono got the phone, he immediately dialed 110!
After a series of voice prompts, Jono 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 was likely just as confused. Who didn't know Ruan Shengyu these days? He was a major celebrity!
"If you have evidence, please bring it to the police station to file a report!"
Jono nodded and hung up the phone, looking as if he was ready to rush to the police station with those audio recordings right away.
This frantic behavior ultimately prompted Huo Yawen to intervene!
"Jono, calm down! Doing this will only make things worse! There are reporters outside looking for you and them! Can we wait until the storm passes?" If Jono went out now, he would definitely be swarmed!
Those reporters didn’t think their words were excessive; they simply believed the public had a right to know the truth. Who cared about Jono's feelings? They would write whatever sounded most scandalous!
Jono's past would likely be dug up, leaving him with no privacy whatsoever!
Huo Yawen didn’t want Jono to go through that, which was why she had come back to trouble Nan Chen.
But Jono pushed Huo Yawen away with considerable force. "Why are you stopping me too? I just want those who intend to harm me to face justice! Why are you trying to hold me back?"
Though the situation was urgent, Huo Yawen still caught a hint of information from Jono's words.
Did he recognize him?
"Jono, have you remembered something about me?" Otherwise, why would Jono be willing to follow him? Even if they had only met once in the hospital, it shouldn't have led to him wanting to leave with her!
In that situation, Jono could never leave with a stranger!
Moreover, she had just used the word "also."
Faced with Huo Yawen's question, Jono was stunned.
She looked at Huo Yawen, unable to hide the fact that she had already thought about Huo Yawen.
To be honest, many thoughts crossed her mind.
Qiao Chen, Huo Yawen, her parents, even Ni Yue and her worthless 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 receive the punishment she deserves. Why can she break the law and get away with it? Why does Jin Chengyan protect her? Why?" Perhaps in the end, it wasn't just about wanting Ruan Shengyu punished; it was more about not wanting to see Jin Chengyan protect Ruan Shengyu like that!
Why did he have to protect another woman while claiming to care for her?
Is it true that a man's love and his physical affection are 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; let’s make sure she goes to jail, okay?" To soothe Jono, Huo Yawen could only respond this way.
Of course, after learning the truth, he didn't want to let go of the person who bullied Jono either. He never expected Jin Chengyan to be so protective of that woman named Ruan Shengyu!
Who exactly is Jin Chengyan's wife?
Receiving a positive response from Huo Yawen, Jono finally felt at ease. She mechanically nodded, murmuring to herself, "Ruan Shengyu must go to jail, definitely..."
She sank back onto the sofa, her mind drifting away.
Jono's dazed state left Huo Yawen feeling uneasy, but he was also worried that Jin Chengyan, who had taken Ruan Shengyu off the stage, might come to hold Jono accountable.
Using the excuse of fetching hot water for Jono, he encountered Nan Chen.
Nan Chen raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the guest room. His wife, Shu Yi, stood beside him. However, since he was in a cooperative relationship with Jin Chengyan, it would be somewhat awkward if Huo Yawen left Jono 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." His acquaintance with Nan Chen was merely coincidental. On the plane, when Nan Chen's mother fell ill, Huo Yawen was the only doctor on board and stepped in to help.
Afterward, Nan Chen's mother frequently contacted Huo Yawen and seemed keen on having him as a godson. Gradually, Huo Yawen and Nan Chen's relationship improved.
During the New Year celebrations, Nan Chen's mother would invite Huo Yawen over for dinner.
Hearing Huo Yawen say this, Nan Chen did not refuse. After all, he was already aware of what had happened earlier in the venue. The high-society circle was small; besides, that bit of news had been circulated through both the internet and television, making it hard not to know.
"However, I’ve never heard you mention your acquaintance with Mrs. Jin," Nan Chen remarked. By referring to her as Mrs. Jin, he clearly wanted to remind Huo Yawen that the person she was currently involved with belonged to Jin Chengyan—at least legally—and advised her not to wade into murky waters.
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 gone and only an eighteen-year-old brother at home, how could she bear all this alone?
Upon hearing Huo Yawen's words, Nan Chen didn’t press further. Everyone had their own thoughts and ways of handling things; no one had the right to interfere or stop others.
"Then Shu 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 took his wife upstairs.
Shu Yi was indeed acquainted with Jono. Although she knew that Jono had lost his memory, her worries were 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 actually pondered for a moment before replying, "How could I ever let you find yourself in such a situation?"
Shu Yi smiled in satisfaction.
Their voices grew quieter as Huo Yawen listened intently, though he couldn't hear them clearly. He held a cup of hot water for Jono but found himself unable to take a step forward.
Seeing Jono like that made it impossible for him to think of her as a sister; he wished he could comfort her like a man instead.
Yet, it seemed he had no reason to encourage her to divorce Jin Chengyan! Such matters should be decided by Jono herself.
Never mind; after all, he would be Jono's strongest support in the future. As long as she remembered him, everything would turn out fine.
He slowly made his way toward Jono's room.
Just then, his phone rang at an inopportune moment.
It was an unfamiliar number, and he answered it.
"Huo Yawen, I give you half an hour to bring Jono 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 Jono to you? In front of thousands of people, you left the stage with your mistress. Did you even consider Jono's feelings? You left her to face so many reporters and spectators alone. Is this the awareness you should have as a husband? The one who has no right to shout at me right now is you!" Jin Chengyan was angry; didn't Huo Yawen feel the same?
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, bring Jono back to me immediately! I..."
Huo Yawen, annoyed by the conversation, hung up the phone, leaving Jin Chengyan shouting on the other end! He shouldn't think that just because he was the ruler of Qin Cheng, he could act without restraint! He couldn't protect a bad person who incited others to commit murder!
As Huo Yawen was about to walk towards Jono's room, she put her phone into her pocket and looked up to see Jono 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 coffee table shattered instantly from the impact of the phone, and Jin Chengyan's screen cracked as well.
Ruan Shengyu, sitting on the other end of the sofa, jumped in surprise at Jin Chengyan's action.
"A-Shan, find Jono! I must see her tomorrow!" Jin Chengyan rubbed his temples, his expression darkening. "This matter cannot be suppressed; minimize media coverage at all costs."
A-Shan did not nod this time; for the first time, he did not fully comply with Jin Chengyan's orders.
Because if all their resources were used to suppress this incident, the ultimate beneficiary would not be Jono but rather Ruan Shengyu sitting on the sofa.
"A-Shan?" Jin Chengyan raised his head; he hadn't heard A-Shan's response.
A-Shan met Jin Chengyan's gaze. "Young Master, Godfather said not to involve Ruan Shengyu in this matter."
Jin Zhongshu knew, but how could he not? 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 and left Qin Cheng that afternoon, he knew that certain audio and video clips would not be released that night. Even if Jono was angry, without the female lead on stage, it would hold no significance!
Jono wanted to see Ruan Shengyu utterly disgraced!
And she succeeded!
When Jono declared she wouldn't let Ruan Shengyu off the hook, Jin Chengyan sensed something would happen; he just didn't expect Jono to resort to such extreme measures.
This method not only ruined Ruan Shengyu's reputation but also exposed Jono completely to the media. Her life would undergo drastic changes, subjected to relentless scrutiny from every angle, leaving her with no peace!
This was the outcome Jin Chengyan dreaded the most. Did everyone have to be scarred before they could feel happy?
"Are you not going to listen to me?" Jin Chengyan's gaze was stern as he looked at A-Shan.
A-Shan remained silent. He had always obeyed Jin Chengyan's orders unconditionally, but this time, he decided to heed Jin Zhongshu's words.
"Ayan, I can bring the Young Mistress before you. But do you think she will be with you without any reservations?" A-Shan called out Jin Chengyan's name in a brotherly manner; at that moment, they were no longer superior and subordinate.
Yet Jin Chengyan suddenly stood up and said to A-Shan, "Isn't it Jono who caused this situation?"
A-Shan looked at the furious Jin Chengyan, momentarily confused as to why his young master, whom he had followed for so many years, was now directing all his anger at Jono.
Wasn't Jono the most innocent party in this matter? Shouldn't the one who deserved punishment be Ruan Shengyu?
When Ruan Shengyu heard Jin Chengyan's words, the anxiety that had been gnawing at her heart suddenly settled.
Look, at this moment, the person Jin Chengyan was blaming was Jono!
When he had 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. Now it seemed that was indeed the case!
Her Ayan had always cared for her! It was just that for a moment, he had been blinded by that wicked woman Jono. 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 Jono's whereabouts.
In the vast living room, only Jin Chengyan and Ruan Shengyu remained, along with the shattered coffee table and phone.
"Ayan..."
"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, Jin Chengyan had chosen her! Why was he still so worried about Jono?
Perhaps it was simply because the Jin family cared more about Jono, which made him feel pressured and more concerned about her.
"I told you, once you leave, all of this will be treated as if it never happened. Why do you insist on staying here? Do you really think Jono won't retaliate against you? Do you really believe I will protect you forever?" If Jin Zhongshu took action, 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 that. I can't bear to see you with another woman."
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.
He had even pretended to be with Jono, hoping to coax Ruan Shengyu into willingly saying those three words. But in the end, he had invested his whole heart into it.
Sometimes, the person you yearn for the most cannot 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 said calmly, stating the fact. "And I have no plans to divorce." Even when the contract expired, he did not want a divorce anymore; he had come to see Jono as the person he wanted to spend his life with.
"But you said that as long as I asked, you would divorce Jono."
"I once said I would give up everything for you. Yet what have you given me in return? You plotted against Jono, even sacrificing your own innocence to make her take the blame. You wanted to kill her! If you didn’t want Jono by my side, 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 any longer. The police might come looking for you tomorrow. All I can do is find you the best lawyer." Incitement to murder and kidnapping were serious matters, especially since they had 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 did not wish for it to come to this.
He wanted to be with Jono 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 you can 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 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 under 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 to take Ruan Shengyu away from the crowd where she was most likely to be attacked.
At that moment, she was the target of everyone's scorn, the center of conflict. Under the verbal assaults from those people, it was very likely she wouldn't be able to hold on.
Leaving Jono behind, he knew Jasper and Xining would take care of her and at least ensure she could safely leave the venue and return home.
So faced with such a choice, Jin Chengyan could only take Ruan Shengyu away.
Moreover, when he heard Ruan Shengyu's cold voice echoing through the venue, he was stunned. He exchanged glances with Jono in the dim light.
He knew all of this had been orchestrated by Jono.
The award ceremony, the presentation of an award to Ruan Shengyu—everything had been planned by Jono to ruin her reputation!
What surprised him was how Jono could arrange so many things in such a short time, just waiting for Ruan Shengyu to fall!
Jono's intentions were indeed unfathomable!
He was also angry. Why did Jono have to become so calculating? He didn't want Jono to turn into that kind of person! He didn't want the one lying beside him to always be scheming 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. Jono's phone had long been turned off, and he couldn't reach her at all. How could Huo Yawen's so-called childhood friend be in C City at this time?
Did Jasper really just hand her over to Huo Yawen?
Thinking about it, they were 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 almost dawn before he finally fell asleep, only to wake up directly at nine in the morning!
When he came out of his room after washing up, he saw Jono sitting on the sofa in the living room. Behind her were several people: one was Huo Yawen, while two others were dressed in suits carrying briefcases, and the other two were in police uniforms.
Jono had actually called the police!
Now there was no need for A-Shan to bring anyone over; Jono had come herself!
But what a scene this was!
“Mr. Jin, please cooperate and hand over Ruan Shengyu to assist us with our investigation. Otherwise, we will charge you with obstructing justice,” one of the officers said in an official tone.
Jin Chengyan had just woken up and hadn't even had a glass of water yet, and they were already demanding this!
He looked at Jono, who sat on the sofa with a cold expression, his brows furrowed.
“I need to talk to Jono alone.” Even though Jin Chengyan was wearing a T-shirt and cotton pants instead of a suit that accentuated his sharpness, the aura of authority he exuded was enough to make others unable to refuse.
"I have nothing to discuss with you; you just need to call out Ruan Shengyu," Jono said calmly, her mind consumed by the thought of using legal means to punish Ruan Shengyu.
Jin Chengyan stepped forward, grabbing Jono's arm and pulling her up.
Huo Yawen immediately seized Jin Chengyan's arm, and the three of them were locked in a standoff.
Both Jin Chengyan and Huo Yawen were applying considerable force, waiting to see who would let go first.
"Get lost!" Jin Chengyan said coldly, not even glancing at Huo Yawen.
"You let go of Jono first!" Huo Yawen remained unfazed.
Jin Chengyan's gaze was fixed on Jono. She had learned her lesson and understood the importance of calling for backup; if one Huo Yawen wasn't enough, she had brought along the police, and the other two might be lawyers!
Just as they were at an impasse, the two arriving police officers seemed to sense something and frowned. "Do you smell blood?"
With that, Jin Chengyan released Jono's hand and rushed toward Ruan Shengyu's room.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw Ruan Shengyu lying in the bathtub, her left wrist slashed open, blood staining the entire tub red.
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