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墨書 Inktalez
Jono had never liked sitting by the window on a plane, especially not in economy class where the space was cramped and there was no room to stretch out. She had bought the ticket in a hurry and had no choice but to take the window seat.
She thought that if someone came to sit in the aisle seat, she could always ask to switch places.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, she was completely hidden beneath her disguise. In truth, flying away felt quite unsafe; Jin Chengyan would be looking for her, and he would find her quickly.
However, trains and cars were too bumpy, and she worried that her body wouldn’t handle it well.
After all, there was a little baby inside her.
She gently touched her belly, feeling a strong desire to protect it.
So even if she had to leave Jin Chengyan, she would still give birth to the child.
With that thought in mind, Jono took out her phone to send a text to Qiao Chen before the plane took off, asking him to take good care of Qiao Lovely.
As soon as she turned on her phone, numerous notifications popped up—texts and calls, most of them from Jin Chengyan, all asking where she was.
Jono chose to ignore them and quickly found Qiao Chen's number. She typed out a message and sent it before turning off her phone again.
In just three short minutes, Jono felt her hands trembling. She didn’t know how Qiao Chen would react to the message or what Jin Chengyan’s current state was like.
All she wanted was to quietly give birth to the child.
“Hello, this is my seat.” A hoarse male voice came from above her. Jono snapped back to reality and looked up to see a familiar face.
It was him?
He had boarded last, and with no passengers behind him, he stood in the aisle without blocking anyone. Yet his tall frame still seemed somewhat cramped within the cabin.
Jono immediately stood up and said, “I’m sorry, can I switch seats with you? I’m not used to sitting by the window.”
Yan Beiting noticed that Jono's face was slightly pale, likely due to her physical condition. She probably knew that outside, Jin Chengyan was frantically searching for her, which made her a bit anxious as well.
"I don't like the window seat either," Yan Beiting said lightly, a faint smile on his face.
Hearing this, Jono felt a bit awkward, but she had to grab her things and head to the window seat since that was what was written on the ticket.
"Just sit down," he gently pressed on Jono's shoulder, guiding her back to the aisle seat.
Jono stiffened; she didn't really like being in close contact with strange men. Although they had met a few times, she still felt uncomfortable.
Yan Beiting realized he had overstepped and withdrew his hand.
"I can take the middle seat; I guess no one is sitting there," he added. Of course, no one was there—he had just torn up that ticket, hadn't he?
Jono felt an indescribable sensation; he seemed both familiar and strange to her.
"Thank you," Jono said softly, feeling utterly drained.
However, she still needed to stand up. The economy class seats were really cramped, and he wouldn't be able to get through if she remained seated.
She stood up, intending to move toward the aisle, but he merely placed his hand on her shoulder. With his tall and sturdy frame, Jono found it impossible to get out.
He turned slightly, almost pressing against her as he maneuvered past, his back brushing against the seat behind him.
Jono: "..."
Had she just been teased?
Her face flushed slightly, but she didn't feel particularly disgusted. She thought it was strange that she felt this way; yet that indescribable sense of familiarity left her feeling flustered.
Jin Chengyan had clearly told her that Yan Beiting was dead. So whether she dug up Yan Beiting's ashes for DNA testing or whatever else, it wouldn't change the fact that he had died four years ago.
Thinking of this, Jono's mood suddenly sank. She quietly sat down and fastened her seatbelt, waiting for the plane to take off.
As the plane taxied on the runway, Jono's heart finally settled down. Leaving Qin Cheng and arriving in Shanghai meant that Jin Chengyan's influence would be somewhat diminished. Could he still have Xiao Yuanshan monitor the road surveillance like he did in Qin Cheng?
Of course, perhaps there was nothing Jin Chengyan couldn't do.
It was just that she had made it clear: don’t look for her, or she would hide.
"Are you... nervous?" A voice came from the left. Jono snapped back to reality and saw the man sitting beside her. There was indeed no one else in the middle seat, so he had taken that spot.
Jono shook her head; her nervousness had been noticed by him.
"What are you doing in Shanghai alone?" It felt like two ordinary people sitting together, trying to avoid boredom by striking up a conversation.
However, it was evident that Jono had no intention of chatting at the moment. She nodded apologetically, lowered the brim of her hat slightly, leaned back against the seat, and tried to sleep...
In fact, Yan Beiting had always known that Jono was not a very enthusiastic person. She struggled to make small talk with someone she barely knew, but once familiar, she could be quite chatty.
But now, with a face that wasn’t Yan Beiting’s, Jono naturally wouldn’t engage him further.
Suddenly, Jono pulled up her hat and turned to look at him.
"Are you close with Ye Yun?" She was persistent, still unwilling to let it go.
Yan Beiting, who had already turned away, noticed the sudden excitement in her voice and turned back to see her eyes shining brightly, a stark contrast to her earlier gloom.
"Yes, I know him well."
"Then you... must know... Yan Beiting too?"
In the end, after all the roundabout conversation, they returned to discussing Yan Beiting.
The corner of his brow twitched slightly. He knew that all these years, Jono had never forgotten what happened back then; it remained a wound in her heart.
If he were standing healthy and whole in front of Jono, he would have told her without hesitation that yes, he is Yan Beiting, and he is still alive.
However, the medical examination report he carried with him was something even Jin Chengyan had not disclosed; only Ye Yun knew just how bad his health was.
Every extra day he lived was a gift from God.
"Do you know him?" Yan Beiting asked casually.
"More than just knowing him." He was a man she would remember for a lifetime, transcending love simply because of who he was.
Jono noticed the dazed look on Yan Beiting's face. Wanting to lighten the mood, he asked, "Is he your boyfriend?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yan Beiting felt an urge to bite her tongue; she always found it hard to express herself in front of Jono.
"No, he's a very good friend."
"Oh..." The conversation seemed to stall there, ending with Yan Beiting.
The flight was scheduled to last two hours and ten minutes, with lunch being served on board. Jono didn't want to eat the airplane food at first but then felt her stomach growl. Thinking about how she wasn't alone anymore, she decided that even if it tasted bad, she couldn't let the person inside her starve.
She lowered the small tray table and placed the meal box on top. As she opened it, a wave of greasy smell assaulted her nose. The overwhelming odor made Jono immediately cover her mouth; she felt nauseous!
Before she could retract the tray table, Jono hurriedly covered her mouth and rushed to the restroom at the back of the plane. Unfortunately, the meal cart blocked the aisle. After some effort, she managed to squeeze past it and reached the restroom, where she leaned over the vanity and threw up.
"Cough cough... cough cough..." It felt terrible; despite having nothing in her stomach, she couldn't help but feel sick.
Then, a warm hand gently patted her back from behind.
In her rush to get there, Jono hadn't even had time to close the door and was lost in her own world of nausea.
After finally calming down a bit, a flight attendant came over with concern: "Ma'am, are you feeling unwell?"
Jono shook his head; this must be morning sickness, but he didn't expect it to come so early.
"Is there anything you need? We are here to serve you at any time, sir, ma'am. I wish you a pleasant journey," the Flight Attendant cheerfully inquired before continuing to distribute meals.
As for Jono, after throwing up, he still felt a bit uncomfortable. However, looking at the person standing by the door reminded him that the Flight Attendant had mistakenly thought they were a couple.
Well, there was no need to explain; after meeting once, they would likely never see each other again.
"Pregnant?" he said jokingly.
Jono was surprised. Was it that obvious?
"How did you know?" Could it be motion sickness?
"Would you believe me if I said I'm a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner? You look weak and pale. Not only is your health poor, but the baby in your belly might not be getting enough nutrition either."
Jono wasn't sure if the man in front of him was talking nonsense or if he really knew what he was talking about, but it was true that her energy levels were low.
She was also worried that her body couldn't provide enough nutrition for the baby, so she needed to find a reputable hospital as soon as she arrived in Shanghai to take good care of herself.
Jono was momentarily stunned by his words and hadn't fully processed them when he walked over to where drinks were being served and asked for a cup of warm water.
"Drink some warm water; it will help a little. Once we land, go eat something at the airport restaurant. You need to take care of your body; otherwise, giving birth will be very painful."
Jono took the warm water, feeling its warmth in her hands.
He was a friend of Ye Yun and had an inexplicable relationship with Yan Beiting. Moreover, Jono felt as if she had known him for many years, and now he was concerned about her...
Her emotions were somewhat chaotic.
Later, until they landed, Jono didn't say another word. After disembarking, she didn't go to eat anything nearby at the airport but directly took a taxi to the hotel and then looked for a better hospital.
Yan Beiting walked out of the airport and saw Jono getting into a taxi alone. Naturally, he followed suit and instructed the driver to follow Jono's car.
As soon as his phone powered on, Jin Chengyan's call came through. Clearly, this person had been waiting for quite some time.
"I've been waiting for you in Jin Mansion for two hours, and now you tell me you're in Shanghai," Jin Chengyan's voice was laced with suppressed anger.
Two and a half hours ago, he learned that Yan Beiting had boarded a flight to Shanghai, and on the same flight was a woman—Jono.
He had initially planned to disregard everything and head straight there, hoping to intercept her at the airport and bring her back to Qin Cheng for a proper lesson.
However, he found himself sitting in the living room of Jin Mansion, watching time tick by.
It wasn't that he lacked the ability to go to Shanghai right now; it wasn't that he didn't have the resolve to bring Jono back immediately.
But what would happen after bringing her back? Would he just send her straight to the operating table, making Jono resent him for life?
Or perhaps he could bring her back and persuade her gently, but who knew if Jono would just run away again?
After going through this cycle multiple times, he wasn't the only one getting tired; Jono would be worn out too. At this rate, forget about ensuring her health during pregnancy—Jono might not even be able to maintain her own well-being.
Wasn't he just stuck in a passive situation?
However, knowing that Yan Beiting was by Jono's side eased his mind somewhat. At least with Yan Beiting around, if Jono were to act irrationally, he would stop her.
Yet, having Yan Beiting near Jono still left Jin Chengyan feeling uneasy.
He wasn't unaware of Yan Beiting's feelings for Jono.
But what could he do? There was only one Jono in this world. If she chose to be with him, Jin Chengyan, then there was no way she could be with Yan Beiting.
"Give me a few days, and I'll bring Jono to you safe and sound." There was an inexplicable confidence in his voice. Even though Jono had hardly spoken to him, he felt strongly that he couldn't let Jono be alone out there.
She should return to Jin Chengyan's side; only by being with him would she truly be happy.
Only then would she really feel joy.
With things having developed to this point, Jin Chengyan seemed to have no other choice. He couldn't allow Jono to remain outside; if he appeared before her, she would surely run away again.
"Tell me where you are now."
Later, when they arrived at the hotel, Yan Beiting informed Jin Chengyan of their location. There was no harm in telling him; he simply wanted to know Jono's every move and ensure she was still safe.
After hanging up the phone, Jin Chengyan got up from the sofa. Sitting in one position for too long had made his shoulders ache. He checked his documents and booked two tickets for himself—flights to Shanghai, the last one of the day, departing at eleven o'clock at night.
He packed a simple bag, fully aware that the flight wouldn't take off until late at night, yet he was already on his way.
In the back seat, Qiao Lovely was bubbling with excitement. Her daddy had just said he would take her out to play, and she had never gone out with him before.
Although she wished her mommy could be there too.
After seeing the text message Jono sent her, Qiao Chen hurried home. Jin Mengxi told him that Jin Chengyan had already picked up Qiao Lovely.
In the end, Qiao Chen called Jin Chengyan. After some twists and turns, he and Jin Mengxi arrived at the airport and found Jin Chengyan in the VIP Lounge.
When Qiao Lovely saw Qiao Chen, she initially wanted to greet him enthusiastically but quickly noticed that Little Daddy looked upset. Her mommy immediately took her aside so that Little Daddy could talk with her daddy; it seemed quite serious.
Could it be that Little Daddy didn't want her daddy to take her out?
Jin Mengxi watched through the glass as Jin Chengyan and Qiao Chen faced each other. She hoped they wouldn't start fighting; otherwise, she wouldn't know whether to help her brother or her man.
On this side, the two men were facing off. This wasn't their first confrontation; although Jin Chengyan's life experience gave him an edge over Qiao Chen, Qiao Chen's fearless spirit of a newcomer meant he wouldn't necessarily back down easily.
"I only want my sister to come back safely; I don't care about your child."
"Finally, we agree on something."
"In the future, if you want to be together, I have no objections. But if you dare to let her down, I will make you pay without mercy."
"Likewise, if you dare to harm Xi Er in any way, don't think that being Jono's brother will save you; I won't let you off the hook."
It seemed they had reached a consensus. In truth, both Jin Chengyan and Qiao Chen, regardless of their motives, ultimately hoped for Jono's happiness and well-being, wishing for Jin Mengxi to be joyful as well—all for the sake of those they cared about.
Yet, they had initially resorted to the most cruel methods to hurt each other's loved ones.
However, it was not too late.
"I'll take Qiao Lovely back. Don't be fooled by how happy she seems with you now; she’ll have trouble sleeping tonight away from home. You can't focus on two things at once," Qiao Chen said, turning to look outside at Qiao Lovely and Jin Mengxi, who seemed at a loss for words.
From this perspective, both Qiao Lovely and Jin Mengxi were particularly adorable.
He almost missed her.
"No need for that. After all, Little Cutie will be living with me and Jono from now on. She needs to get used to my presence as soon as possible. To me, she is like my daughter."
With Jin Chengyan's affirmative response, Qiao Chen felt a bit more at ease.
He knew that with his own strength, he could never persuade Jono, who was determined to have the child. Only Jin Chengyan could change Jono's mind—whether through forceful or gentle means.
It wasn't that they wanted to prevent Jono from having a child; it was just that if this child posed a threat to Jono's life, even if it were Jono's last child, they would not allow her to give birth.
The child was a lifelong pain for Jono, just as Jono became a lifelong pain for Qiao Chen and Jin Chengyan.
Jin Mengxi was surprised to find that Qiao Chen and Jin Chengyan had concluded their discussion peacefully. When the two emerged, it seemed they had reached some sort of understanding.
Jin Mengxi was still worried about how Jin Chengyan would react upon seeing her. To her surprise, he smiled gently at her and said that he was doing well with Qiao Chen.
Jin Mengxi thought to herself that her brother must have been possessed.
As she left with Qiao Chen, she linked her arm with Qiao Chen's and asked, "What did you just say to my brother? Why does he seem... a bit off?"
Qiao Chen's lips curled into a slight smile as he reached out with his other hand to ruffle Jin Mengxi's hair. The gentle gesture made Jin Mengxi's heart flutter, and she immediately became adorably obedient.
"We should discuss whether I should call him 'brother-in-law' or 'brother' in the future." It was indeed a pressing question!
Jin Mengxi's face flushed instantly, and she buried her head into Qiao Chen's shoulder.
"Who said anything about marrying you?" Just one day after reconciling, did he want to skip straight to marriage?
No way!
However, Qiao Chen replied, "Did I say I would propose to you again?"
Jin Mengxi immediately lifted her head, waiting for Qiao Chen with a mix of anger, grievance, and a hint of... discomfort.
Seeing the look in Jin Mengxi's eyes, Qiao Chen quickly surrendered. Why was it that he felt like he was losing control over Jin Mengxi more and more?
"I was just joking. I will marry you; you're the only one for me!"
"Did I say I wanted to marry you?" Jin Mengxi retorted with a proud expression.
We only learn to cherish what we have after we lose it. Fortunately, some of what we've lost may still return to us; it's just that we fear there may not be another chance.
In the waiting room, Qiao Lovely sat on Jin Chengyan's lap, unaware that they were on their way to find their mother.
She said, "Daddy, let's go to the botanical garden, the zoo, and the aquarium with Mommy in the future! We need to take lots and lots of pictures to hang on the wall, okay?"
"Good!" Jin Chengyan could already imagine how happy that scene would be. For the moment that Qiao Lovely described, he would do everything in his power to persuade Jono to give up that child.
The late-night flight arrived in Shanghai. After exiting the airport, it was already two in the morning. Although A-Shan didn't come along, arrangements had been made here. As soon as they left the airport, a driver was waiting to take him and Qiao Lovely to the hotel.
Jono's room was only one floor away. If they were on the same floor, it was very likely that Jono would discover them.
Despite the close proximity, Jin Chengyan felt as if he and Jono were separated by an entire universe.
He wanted to bridge that cosmic distance and get closer to Jono.
Jin Chengyan placed Qiao Lovely on the bed and dimmed the lights in the room. Only then did he head to the bathroom for a shower. When he came out, a towel was wrapped around his waist, and droplets of water trickled down his skin, finally disappearing into the towel.
He fished out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, walked over to the balcony, and lit the cigarette under the night sky.
Shanghai at night, even though it was already early morning, was still dazzling, with no stars visible in the sky.
Meanwhile, downstairs on the balcony of the same room, Jono sat wrapped in a coat on a chair, gazing at the bright lights of night-time Shanghai.
Unable to sleep.
Jono recalled four years ago when she had just left Jin Chengyan; Yan Beiting had also died. She couldn't sleep for nights on end, feeling out of place in a foreign land.
On those sleepless nights, she would sit on the balcony and look at the night sky.
Now, looking at the same sky, Jono wondered if he was also staring into this dark night?
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