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"However, digging up his grave might be a bit too immoral, don't you think?" Xining hesitated for a moment, ultimately feeling that Jono was acting a bit strangely.
Jono looked at the English words on the tombstone and also felt that perhaps he was being a bit unethical.
What if Yan Beiting really was inside? Hadn't she disturbed his peace?
But what if the person inside wasn't Yan Beiting?
She always had a feeling that Yan Beiting was right there beside her.
After returning to the city from the cemetery, Xining took Jono out to eat, although Jono didn't have much of an appetite.
"So, Jono, did you ever like Yan Beiting?" Xining, having learned the reason for Yan Beiting's death, truly lamented that he was an exceptionally good man. She wanted to know if someone like Yan Beiting had ever captured Jono's heart.
"You like warm sunshine. I believe during this time, there must have been other men who liked you and unconditionally devoted themselves to you. So, did you ever like any other men?"
"No." Xining replied without hesitation, then realized that Jono had always liked Jin Chengyan until now.
While she felt that Jono was loyal, she also thought she was particularly heartless—cold towards Yan Beiting and ruthless towards those who liked her.
"You are really harsh on yourself," Xining said, struggling to understand Jono's world. "You no longer like other men, yet you also aren't with Jin Chengyan. Do you plan to live in solitude for the rest of your life?"
Jono could tell Xining about the reason for Yan Beiting's departure but couldn't explain why she had to leave Jin Chengyan for Qiao Lovely.
"I'm doing just fine now, aren't I?" Jono smiled slightly, but the loneliness that flickered in her eyes didn't escape Xining's notice.
However, Xining didn't press further. Everyone has their own life; even if she asked every question under the sun, it wouldn't change how the other person lived. It was best to leave it at that.
"Hello, what would you like to order?" The waiter approached the table, with everything left to Xining. Jono paused for a moment, contemplating whether it was really a good idea to dig up Yan Beiting's grave for a DNA test. Wouldn't that be strange?
As she drifted off in thought, her gaze inadvertently wandered to the distance, where a man with a familiar build caught Jono's eye.
He was accompanied by a woman and a child, and when he turned his face slightly, Jono realized it was indeed him.
Huo Yawen.
"Jono, is this enough to order?" Xining asked.
Jono snapped back to reality and nodded.
The waiter noted down Xining's order and then left. Without the waiter’s presence as a shield, Jono found herself fully exposed to Huo Yawen's gaze.
Noticing Jono's distraction, Xining followed her line of sight and saw the man, woman, and child.
"Do you know them?" Xining asked, having never met Huo Yawen, so she was unaware of the context.
Jono nodded. "He's our neighbor."
Their eyes met for a brief moment, but neither made the first move to approach the other.
Perhaps knowing that the other was doing well was enough; there was no need to disrupt the status quo.
It was the woman who spoke to Huo Yawen, prompting him to turn back and explain something to her.
Jono quickly turned his head to look at Xining.
She had always known that if she returned home, she would encounter people from her past, and memories would come flooding back.
This place was where all her memories were buried.
"Oh," Xining nodded. After all, it was no surprise that Jono, having grown up here, would meet familiar faces.
However, she didn't expect that just a few minutes later, Huo Yawen would come over with the woman and child he was with.
It was the woman who spoke first.
"Hello, I just heard Yawen mention you. So you are the little neighbor he grew up with. It's nice to meet you. I'm Yawen's wife, Lin Ke, and this is our son, Holly Raylin," Lin Ke said with a smile as she introduced herself to Jono.
Yet, the atmosphere felt a bit awkward; even Xining could sense it.
Jono immediately stood up. "Hello, I'm also very happy to meet you. Your child is truly adorable. Since we’ve met by chance, why don’t we sit down together for a meal?"
"Sure!" Lin Ke glanced back at Huo Yawen and, seeing that he had no objections, called over a waiter to bring them a larger table.
Xining reordered the dishes, and once everyone was seated, Jono and Huo Yawen finally began to talk properly.
"Jono, I thought..." You were dead. However, Huo Yawen did not finish his sentence.
The true reason behind that explosion years ago had been completely covered up by the Jin Family. He had asked many people before he learned what had actually happened that day.
Of course, they thought Jono was dead.
Jono smiled helplessly. "I'm sorry for making you all worry. I just have my reasons and couldn't tell you. But I'm back now, and you’re married! I'm so happy to see your family of three living happily together. I didn't even give you a red envelope!"
Huo Yawen was a bit stunned when she saw Jono, perhaps still processing the situation.
Even though she had known from various sources that Jono was alive and had returned home, and the news about Jin Chengyan had dominated the headlines for days, making it hard for anyone to believe she was gone.
But seeing her in person felt entirely different.
"Jono, we should keep in touch more often. Yawen doesn't have any siblings, so having a neighbor like you will make our New Year’s Eve dinners much livelier!" Lin Ke chimed in on the conversation between Jono and Huo Yawen.
Huo Yawen glanced at her wife, and for a brief moment, their eyes seemed to spark with something before it vanished without a trace.
Jono thought she must have misread the situation; perhaps she was overthinking it.
Meanwhile, sitting next to Lin Ke, Holly Raylin remained silent, appearing to be a quiet child.
Jono overlooked the subtle atmosphere between Lin Ke and Huo Yawen, turning to Holly Raylin. "Auntie has a daughter who's a little older than you. Would you like me to bring her to meet you next time?"
Holly Raylin looked at Jono, then nodded but didn’t say anything.
Lin Ke immediately patted his son's head and apologized to Jono. "Our son is a bit shy; he'll warm up once he gets familiar."
"Yes, our Qiao Lovely is the same."
The meal they had was not particularly enjoyable. Jono felt that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. After finishing, Xining mentioned that she had to leave for something.
Jono offered to see her off, and so the two of them left together.
Once outside the restaurant, Xining linked her arm with Jono's wrist and murmured, "Jono, I think Lin Ke might not really like you."
"Really? Why do you say that?" Jono had sensed it too but didn't understand why.
"I don't know, just a woman's intuition!" Xining replied mysteriously.
They walked together to the parking lot, and just as they were about to drive away, someone stepped in front of their car.
It was Huo Yawen.
Jono immediately hit the brakes.
"Maybe I know why now," Xining said, glancing at Huo Yawen outside the car, speaking in her mysterious tone again.
"Ah?" Jono still didn't quite get it.
"I'm going home by myself. You should talk to him. If he doesn't clarify things with you, he might never find peace," Xining said before unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the car.
After stepping out, Xining pointed to the passenger seat, signaling for Huo Yawen to get in.
Huo Yawen thanked Xining and climbed into the passenger seat, leaving Jono alone with him in the car.
Actually, just now, with Lin Ke present, and Holly Raylin, and Xining there, the two of them didn’t say much.
There were many things that weren’t convenient to discuss in front of outsiders.
“Jono…”
“Yawen…”
The two spoke in unison, perhaps because there was too much they wanted to say.
“You go first,” Jono said, taking a deep breath. He had a feeling that what Huo Yawen was about to say would be the heaviest thing he had ever heard.
Huo Yawen also took a deep breath and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.
Jono remembered that Huo Yawen didn’t smoke. What made him pick up a cigarette?
“Do you mind if I smoke?” He seemed to need it to relieve his emotions.
Jono rolled down the car window. She didn’t like the smell of smoke, but she knew Huo Yawen really needed to calm down.
“I don’t know where to start or where to end,” Huo Yawen admitted, sounding confused. “But I’m glad you’re alive. As long as you’re alive, that’s enough.”
As long as one is alive, even if they have never been together, there is still a place in the heart that remains peaceful.
He lit the cigarette, and the acrid smell filled Jono’s nose, making her feel uncomfortable, but she endured it.
“Jono, I liked you, but not as much as Jin Chengyan did, nor did I give everything for you like Yan Beiting. In fact, I never even told you about this, and then you just disappeared from my sight.”
Jono was shocked, but after the initial surprise, he calmed down.
He had liked her once, but in the end, he let go and chose to marry another woman, starting anew.
Jono felt that his burden was not as heavy anymore.
“When I learned that you had died... no, when everyone thought you had died, I also believed it. Those who leave are gone, but those who remain must continue living. So I got married, had children, and lived an ordinary life, burying my feelings for you deep in my heart.
“Honestly, I just didn’t like you that much. If I truly loved you, if you were the only one for me, I should have been like Jin Chengyan—completely unwilling to believe that you were gone, loving only you for my entire life and disregarding all other women.”
While Huo Yawen spoke, Jono didn’t say a word. He didn’t want to interrupt or break her emotional flow.
And she finally understood how precious it was for Jin Chengyan to believe she was still alive throughout those four years.
He endured all the pressure from everyone else, holding on to the belief that the woman he deeply loved was still alive.
Thinking of this made Jono's heart ache painfully.
“I thought when you returned, you would be with Jin Chengyan.”
Jono remained silent… Everyone thought they would be together.
“But honestly, it’s okay if you’re not together.” Huo Yawen suddenly spoke up. “Dating someone like him, marrying him and having children—it's a pressure that most people cannot bear. I hope you find your own simple happiness and live happily for the rest of your life.”
Although he knew that such happiness could only be given by Jin Chengyan, he still felt that it was better for Jono to stay away from him.
She deserved someone who would care for her in every way, but that person was not him.
"Thank you, Yawen." Thank you for your affection, but he couldn't respond in kind; he couldn't bear his feelings.
After finishing a cigarette, Huo Yawen took a deep breath and turned to look at Jono. That glance contained too much.
All the past emotions—reluctance, infatuation, helplessness, and letting go.
From now on, Huo Yawen truly had to say goodbye to this girl.
"Jono, goodbye." He wanted to reach out for one last embrace, but as his hand lifted into the air, it ultimately came to a stop.
It wasn't right; they simply weren't suited for an embrace now.
He withdrew his hand and got out of the car.
Jono watched Huo Yawen standing by the car and waved at her.
He wanted to see her leave first; it had always been like this.
When their family went to America before, on that road outside their home, Jono was the one who saw them off, but Huo Yawen insisted on watching Jono leave.
Let him keep the memory of her back as she walked away.
The one who is sending someone off will definitely feel even worse.
Jono started the car and drove away from the parking space.
In the rearview mirror, Huo Yawen stood still for a long time.
She also saw Lin Ke walking over with his son. She stood two meters away from him, not taking another step closer.
In the end, Huo Yawen withdrew her gaze from Jono's departing car and walked towards her wife and son. Those two were the ones she would spend her life with.
...
“Alice, is Brother Ayan free right now?” Yan'an City suddenly visited the Jin Family without calling ahead, just barging in.
Alice glanced at the office door. “The president is busy right now; he’s entertaining an important guest.” Although Alice had never seen this person before, it seemed that Jin Chengyan valued him highly.
“When will it be over? I have something urgent.” Yan'an City looked at the time, feeling an impulse to break down the door.
“The president didn’t say.” Alice genuinely didn’t know, so she could only give Yan'an City that response.
He was indeed very anxious!
After waiting for about ten minutes, the conversation inside finally ended. When Yan'an City saw Jin Chengyan's esteemed guest coming out of the office, he brushed past him.
For a brief moment of shock, Yan'an City immediately turned around and called out to that esteemed guest!
"You—" Yan'an City did not know who this distinguished guest was to Jin Chengyan, but the figure was so familiar.
The person also stopped, having just brushed past Yan'an City. It took a moment for Yan'an City to react, but from the moment he saw Yan'an City, an unusual expression flickered in his eyes.
Yan'an City rushed two steps forward, but once he got a clear look at the face, he realized he had been mistaken.
"I thought..." he thought it was the long-lost Yan Beiting, that damn guy who had dared to disappear for four years! Not a word from him! "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
"It's alright." The hoarse and deep voice reached Yan'an City's ears; indeed, he had been mistaken, as even the voice sounded completely different.
He slightly gestured, indicating that Yan'an City was blocking his path.
Yan'an City showed an apologetic expression and then stepped aside, allowing the person who looked and felt so much like Yan Beiting to pass.
He stood there in a daze for half a minute before finally snapping back to reality at Alice's call. It reminded him that he had important matters to discuss with Jin Chengyan, so without hesitation, he walked toward the office.
When Jin Chengyan saw that it was Yan'an City approaching, he couldn't help but think of the person who had just walked out. Could they have crossed paths?
"Brother Ayan, I ran into Ye Yun yesterday. Do you remember Ye Yun? Brother Three's assistant? He disappeared along with Brother Three four years ago. I wanted to ask him about Brother Three's whereabouts, but he slipped away! I feel like there's something suspicious about this! You know the situation at home right now; if Brother Three doesn't come back, Big Brother and Second Brother are going to rebel!" So Yan'an City was feeling quite... furious.
After listening to Yan'an City speak so much, Jin Chengyan put down the cup in his hand and naturally recalled that when Yan Beiting had left earlier, he hadn't recognized Yan'an City.
And Yan'an City was here to ask him for help with another matter.
"Liu Er, let me tell you something. You promise not to get too worked up." He gave a preemptive warning to prepare Yan'an City mentally.
From the expression on Jin Chengyan's face, it was clear that it wasn't good news.
"Do you know the whereabouts of Brother Three?" A hint of doubt appeared on Yan'an City's stunning face, as she could see no positive emotions reflected in Jin Chengyan's demeanor.
"Liu Er, if Brother Three never returns from now on, can you hold up the Yan Family in his stead?" The question was posed in a way that prevented Yan'an City from immediately accepting the grim possibility.
Yan'an City fell silent for a moment, contemplating the meaning behind Jin Chengyan's words.
The implication of "never coming back" carried too many meanings. Did it mean he wanted to spend his life as an angel in that place in Africa, or did it mean he was unable to return in the natural sense—essentially, that he was dead?
"Brother Ayan, this is not something to joke about. You know how much Grandpa has high hopes for Brother Three. I am just a good-for-nothing scion of a noble family." Although Yan'an City spoke with a hint of sarcasm, he became serious.
A glimmer of insight shone in his bright eyes, seeing through Jin Chengyan's demeanor.
After all, Jin Chengyan was someone who had weathered many storms; he and Yan'an City were evenly matched.
"Do you think I'm joking?" Jin Chengyan's stern face bore a serious expression.
The two seemed to be engaged in a game of wits, neither willing to reveal their cards.
When did they reach such a point?
Clearly, the relationship between Yan'an City and Jin Chengyan was closer than that between Yan Beiting and Yan'an City; they were more like brothers.
"Liu Er, there was a conflict in a tribe in Africa. Brother Three was injured by stray bullets while trying to save a local child. You know how backward the medical facilities are there and how chaotic the situation is, so..."
"So, what kind of joke are you making?" Yan'an City scoffed, his gaze cold as he looked at Jin Chengyan. Was he really saying that their all-powerful Yan San had been taken down by a stray bullet?
"His last wish was for Grandpa Yan not to know. Wait until he has passed a hundred years, and until you can truly take control of the Yan Family, then announce this news."
Creak— the office door swung open.
Yan'an City mechanically turned around, and Jin Chengyan followed suit. Who dared to open his office door at this moment?
Standing at the entrance was Jono.
"He... is really dead?" Jono had overheard the entire conversation between Jin Chengyan and Yan'an City. Yet, Jin Chengyan had said that Yan Beiting had died from a stray bullet in Africa!
But Yan Beiting's ashes were in the cemetery!
So, one of the two dead people must be a fake!
Jono found everything particularly strange.
Jin Chengyan looked at Jono at the door and felt that things had taken a turn for the worse.
Yan Beiting had told him that Jono thought he was already dead, and from Jono's expression during their earlier conversation, it seemed she had heard everything!
"But he clearly is..."
"Jono, is it really appropriate for you to be here right now?" Jin Chengyan said coldly, with three parts detachment and seven parts unfamiliarity.
Jono snapped back to reality, only to find Jin Chengyan's indifferent expression staring back at her.
Yes, they were already divorced. What right did he have to treat her gently?
"I... want to ask you about Beiting." Perhaps she just wanted to see him, even if it was just for a moment.
"Why are you asking me about his matters? Do we still have any ties?" The cold words echoed in Jono's ears once more.
"Brother Ayan, I will find you to clarify Brother Three's situation." Yan'an City knew that Jono had arrived, and Jin Chengyan definitely didn't have the energy to deal with her. However, he absolutely couldn't believe that Yan Beiting could lose his life to a mere stray bullet!
He then left, brushing past Jono and casting a deep glance at her.
That one look made Jono feel guilty; she had seen how much pain Yan Beiting was in, and Yan'an City was Yan Beiting's younger brother.
The office door closed, and Jono watched Jin Chengyan from three meters away.
It had only been half a month since they last met, but she had already seen him in magazines standing with another woman.
"Jono, we have no need to meet now. If there's anything work-related, turn left when you go out and make an appointment with Alice."
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