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墨書 Inktalez
The water in the bathtub was stained red with blood, and hot water continued to pour from the faucet, overflowing onto the floor. The crimson liquid streamed down the sides of the white tub, a shocking sight!
Ruan Shengyu lay in the bathtub, her face pale as if she were dead.
Even the seasoned police officers, accustomed to handling cases, were momentarily stunned by the scene.
While everyone else stood frozen in place, Jin Chengyan rushed forward in a single leap, pulling the barely conscious Ruan Shengyu from the tub.
Dressed in a white nightgown, she was already soaked in blood. Fortunately, her arms hung over the edge of the bathtub, preventing the warm water from continuously soaking her wounds. Otherwise, at this rate, before they even arrived, she would have bled to death.
But the current situation was still dire!
As Jin Chengyan held Ruan Shengyu in his arms, he felt no breath or heartbeat from her!
Emerging from the bathroom with Ruan Shengyu cradled in his arms, he saw Qiao Nuo and others still standing at the doorway, staring at them in shock. He glared at Qiao Nuo and said, “Do you need to see her die right in front of you before you’ll take this seriously?”
Qiao Nuo was speechless. She didn’t know what to say and didn’t want to engage with Jin Chengyan, who looked at her as if she were an enemy.
In Jin Chengyan's eyes, she must have become an unequivocal villain!
Without waiting for Qiao Nuo’s response, Jin Chengyan prepared to leave with Ruan Shengyu.
One of the two police officers who had followed them said earnestly, “Once Ruan Shengyu wakes up, you must take her to the station…”
“If you try to stop me again and anything happens to her, I’ll make sure you never wear that uniform again!” Jin Chengyan threatened openly.
“You’re obstructing justice! I…” The officer wanted to protest; after all, his authority was being challenged!
But Jin Chengyan had no time for further discussion. He simply carried Ruan Shengyu away!
Blood dripped from Ruan Shengyu onto the clean carpet, and Qiao Nuo found it shocking.
In truth, she didn't want Ruan Shengyu to die; that would be too easy for her. She should face the consequences of her actions, enduring the legal repercussions without the ability to flaunt her deceitful facade any longer.
But what if she died like this? With so much blood, how could she possibly survive?
"Qiao Nuo?" Huo Yawen called her name, noticing that she seemed lost in thought. Despite her outward strength, inside she was fragile.
"Yes?" Qiao Nuo's gaze returned from the crimson scene in the bathroom. "Since Ruan Shengyu attempted suicide, it only proves her guilt and desire to evade justice. If she survives, I won't let this go easily. But if she dies..."
What if she dies?
Qiao Nuo looked at the lawyer, unsure of what to do in this situation.
"A deceased person cannot bear legal responsibility because they are considered property under the law. The law does not hold property accountable," the lawyer explained to Qiao Nuo.
Qiao Nuo smiled faintly; no wonder she would resort to suicide!
"Miss Qiao, the suspect is being taken to the hospital. We need to go there as well. If you have any evidence or other leads, please share them with us," a police officer said to Qiao Nuo.
"Okay, thank you," Qiao Nuo replied mechanically.
The police and lawyer left first, and Qiao Nuo followed Huo Yawen out of the suite.
To her surprise, A Shan was waiting outside. When he saw Huo Yawen, his expression remained neutral.
"Young Madam, there are a few words that my godfather asked me to convey to you."
Qiao Nuo looked at A Shan, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity, especially when she heard him call her "Young Madam." It left her momentarily dazed.
Yes, she was indeed Jin Chengyan's wife, but after so many days and so many events, she was beginning to forget this fact.
"Mr. Huo, please step aside," A Shan said somewhat rudely to Huo Yawen.
Huo Yawen showed no fear of A Shan's intimidation; he simply patted Qiao Nuo on the shoulder and said, "I'll wait for you up ahead. Call me if you need anything."
Qiao Nuo nodded, her gaze somewhat unfocused as she watched Huo Yawen walk away. It wasn't until she could no longer see his figure that she slowly withdrew her eyes.
"Young Madam, Godfather doesn't really have anything to tell you."
Qiao Nuo looked at A Shan in confusion. If that was the case, why did he say that?
"It’s the young master; he is actually very worried about you. I can't judge whether your actions are right or wrong, but the young master just wants a way for everyone to be happy. He had already planned to send Ruan Shengyu abroad so that she would never appear in your sight again. Now that she has committed suicide, this has greatly impacted the young master. If you are willing to seek peace first..."
"A Shan, you are Jin Chengyan's person, so of course you consider his perspective. But seeking peace... ha." Qiao Nuo forced a couple of laughs. "I can't seek peace with a man who is thinking of someone else."
Qiao Nuo's stance was unwavering!
"Furthermore, please tell your young master that Ruan Shengyu's choice to commit suicide only proves that she has a guilty conscience! As long as she still draws breath, I will make her pay the price! If he continues to protect Ruan Shengyu, then we can only go our separate ways!" With that, Qiao Nuo left without a hint of emotion.
A Shan rubbed his temples; it seemed that trying to speak well of their young master to Qiao Nuo was utterly futile!
After turning away, tears fell from Qiao Nuo's eyes without warning. You could say she was strong, but her strength was merely a facade for her inner fragility!
Her husband would rather protect another woman and be at odds with her. Even the strongest facade couldn't hold up under such circumstances!
In the empty elevator, Qiao Nuo couldn't help but crouch down, burying her head in her knees as tears soaked her legs.
The elevator went up and down, its doors opening and closing repeatedly. Those waiting outside, seeing someone inside crying so heartbreakingly, silently chose to close the doors again, allowing her to cry in peace.
Time passed, though she couldn't tell how long it had been, when suddenly the elevator doors opened and someone stepped inside.
A warm coat was draped over her shoulders as the person crouched down and held her in their embrace.
"I finally found you." A familiar deep voice reached Qiao Nuo's ears.
Why was it that the person who should have been by her side during her sorrow was not him? The one giving her warmth was not him either?
But Qiao Nuo couldn't afford to think about that anymore. At this moment, all she needed was someone to offer her a shoulder to lean on.
Yan Beiting felt Qiao Nuo grasping at his shirt, her soft sobs echoing in his ears and resonating deep within his heart, one after another.
He had promised that Jin Chengyan would never let Qiao Nuo be sad again; otherwise, he would do anything to make sure she left him.
Now, seeing Qiao Nuo crying so painfully alone in the elevator, it made him question if this was what Jin Chengyan meant by protecting her well.
"Come back with me for now. You need to rest," Yan Beiting gently patted Qiao Nuo's shoulder.
Qiao Nuo nodded. This was the hotel where Jin Chengyan stayed, and just thinking about his presence here made her feel even worse.
With Qiao Nuo's consent, Yan Beiting tried to help her up.
However, after squatting for so long, Qiao Nuo's legs had gone numb; she couldn't stand at all. Her frail appearance tugged at Yan Beiting's heartstrings.
He said nothing and directly picked up Qiao Nuo in his arms.
Fearing a fall, Qiao Nuo wrapped her arms around Yan Beiting's neck, burying her head against his chest, her hair covering most of her face.
Yan Beiting's car was parked outside, and he carried Qiao Nuo straight to the vehicle, fastening her seatbelt before circling around to get in himself.
Coming out of the hotel, Huo Yawen did not find Qiao Nuo but happened to see her being helped into a car by Yan Beiting.
He suddenly felt a sense of relief; even if the person next to Qiao Nuo wasn't Jin Chengyan, it certainly wouldn't be Huo Yawen.
Qiao Nuo was a good girl; she deserved someone who loved her more to be with her.
A Shan, who had just left the hotel to head to the hospital, also saw Qiao Nuo getting into Yan Beiting's car.
...
At the hospital, a large amount of type AB blood was being sent into the operating room, and doctors and nurses hurried back and forth.
Jin Chengyan sat on a bench outside the operating room, his gaze deeply focused on the bright lights within.
He shouldn't have spoken to Ruan Shengyu like that last night. Even if she had made a terrible mistake, he should not have abandoned her, leaving her to turn herself in at the police station alone.
In truth, apart from him, Ruan Shengyu had no one else to rely on. Six years ago, she was isolated and helpless; six years later, she remained alone!
He had known back then that she liked Yan Beiting, yet he still chose to love her. Why should he expect anything in return after all this time?
He had promised to always protect her and make her the happiest woman in the world, but in the end, he had failed to fulfill that wish.
He has broken his promise!
If he hadn't provoked Ruan Shengyu with Qiao Nuo from the beginning, so many things wouldn't have happened!
But what could Jin Chengyan do? Pressured by his family, if he didn't get married soon, Jin Zhongshu would really harm Ruan Shengyu. As the heir of the Jin Family, he couldn't remain single forever.
He felt overwhelmed by too much pressure and too many helpless situations.
What troubled him the most was that he realized, at some point, his heart had developed feelings for the woman named Qiao Nuo, whom he had initially treated as a pawn.
Yet, as a man, even if he truly loved another woman, there was still something called responsibility!
Many times, Jin Chengyan had already regarded Ruan Shengyu as family. How could he stand by if someone were to harm his family?
But with such a huge mess on his hands, Jin Chengyan didn't know how to resolve it!
Ruan Shengyu was implicated in kidnapping and inciting murder! The victim was even his wife.
So at first, he didn't blame Qiao Nuo for not forgiving Ruan Shengyu. He thought that as long as Ruan Shengyu was dealt with, everything would be resolved, and he could spend the rest of his life making it up to Qiao Nuo.
However, human emotions never followed his plans. Ruan Shengyu's unwillingness to leave and Qiao Nuo's insistence on revenge pushed all three of them toward the brink of destruction.
"Mr. Jin, Miss Ruan is no longer in critical condition, but she is still very weak. If she can get through tonight, she should be fine when she wakes up." The doctor came out of the operating room, looking somewhat fatigued.
Jin Chengyan came back to his senses and stood up to thank the doctor. "Thank you."
As long as she was alive, that was enough.
If Ruan Shengyu were to disappear just like that, Jin Chengyan might never forgive himself for the rest of his life.
“Once her health improves a bit, arrange for her to return to Qin Cheng.” This was not his territory, and Jin Chengyan felt uncomfortable in various ways. Whether it was Ruan Shengyu's case or her health, he would feel more assured once they were back in Qin Cheng.
“Understood.”
Jin Chengyan picked up his phone and dialed Qiao Nuo's number, but naturally, there was no answer.
Just then, he ran into A Shan, who was coming from the hotel.
“Sir, Yan San has taken Young Madam out of the hotel.”
One Huo Yawen was already enough; now Yan Beiting had come to meddle as well.
Jin Chengyan frowned slightly. “Go find Qiao Nuo.”
……
Yan Beiting felt that every time he met with Jin Chengyan recently, the atmosphere was tense and confrontational. In the past, because of Ruan Shengyu, Jin Chengyan would be angry with him unilaterally.
At that time, Yan Beiting didn’t care much; he thought it unnecessary for their brotherhood to be strained over a woman like Ruan Shengyu.
But now, because of Qiao Nuo, he found it hard to remain indifferent.
Jin Chengyan had brought a considerable number of people with him—no less than when he had dispatched over twenty helicopters at the airport last time. Now there were over twenty black Mercedes blocking Yan Beiting's car, obstructing his path.
Qiao Nuo had been sleeping in the passenger seat, draped in Yan Beiting's coat.
They were heading back to Qin Cheng, but if they went to the airport now, it would surely attract a lot of reporters. So, Yan Beiting decided to drive back instead.
The scenery along the way was quite nice, allowing Qiao Nuo to relax a little.
Unexpectedly, on the highway, Jin Chengyan's convoy blocked their path.
With such a large display, it didn't take long for traffic police to arrive. Motorcycles and police cars surrounded Jin Chengyan's convoy, thinking there was some sort of riot; even armed police were deployed!
Their imposing presence temporarily paralyzed the highway. Vehicles behind were stopped by police barricades, and those unaware assumed there had been an accident ahead, not realizing the true situation.
Jin Chengyan stood in front of Yan Beiting's car, watching Qiao Nuo peacefully asleep in the passenger seat. His inner fury was no less than when he learned about Ruan Shengyu's suicide.
"Get out," Jin Chengyan said. Although he knew Yan Beiting inside the car couldn't hear him, he was sure he could read his lips!
Yan Beiting looked at the numerous bodyguards from the Jin Family outside and the police surrounding them. Compared to that time at the airport when Jin Chengyan took someone away without any resistance, this time he wasn't necessarily going to lose.
However, he glanced at the person beside him and didn't want to wake her.
She was too tired and really needed a good rest. She had fallen asleep just ten minutes after getting into his car, her brows still furrowed. It seemed she had been through a lot these past few days.
When he learned from Ye Yun about what had happened to Qiao Nuo at the awards ceremony, he felt utterly helpless that he couldn't be by her side immediately.
He turned on some soft music in the car and quietly unbuckled his seatbelt. He then silently got out of the car and gently closed the door, ensuring that the noisy world outside wouldn't disturb Qiao Nuo.
In the middle of winter, Yan Beiting had draped his suit jacket over Qiao Nuo's shoulders. Now wearing only a shirt, he rolled up his sleeves due to the warmth of the air conditioning inside the car, revealing his well-defined forearms. His white shirt tucked into his suit pants might have been slightly wrinkled from long hours of driving, but it couldn't hide his handsome essence.
Standing next to Jin Chengyan, who was dressed in an all-black suit, Yan Beiting exuded an equally formidable presence.
From a young age, these two individuals were the focus of many people's attention. Both were exceptionally talented, evoking a sense of "why must there be both Yu and Liang?"
However, during that time, their relationship was harmonious, never marred by conflict.
That was until Ruan Shengyu appeared.
"Yan Beiting, I warned you to stay away from Qiao Nuo!"
"I warned you too—don't let Qiao Nuo cry again!"
From the very beginning, they clashed fiercely. With similar heights and builds, and both equally handsome, the tension between these two powerful figures was palpable for miles around.
"Qiao Nuo is my wife; you don't need to worry about her! If you're so bored, why not take care of your Yan Fei? With a CEO like you, it's a wonder it can still hold up."
"Qiao Nuo is the woman I love. If you treat her poorly, then I’m sorry, but I won’t give you another chance to hurt her. If you love Ruan Shengyu so much, why don’t you just hold onto her forever?"
During arguments, we often resort to the harshest words to hurt one another, unwilling to back down.
It doesn’t matter if they are children or adults; everyone behaves this way.
And it’s not just these two high-IQ, high-EQ men; in matters of the heart, they are just like children.
"The one who wants to harm Qiao Nuo is Ruan Shengyu. If you’re still protecting her at this moment, have you considered Qiao Nuo's feelings?" As Yan Beiting said this, he was filled with rage and grabbed Jin Chengyan by the collar.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Jin Chengyan's bodyguards rushed forward, a dark mass surrounding Yan Beiting's car.
But Jin Chengyan raised his hand to signal them not to advance.
"Your anger is completely unfounded. May I ask what position you hold to speak up for Qiao Nuo? Are you her family or something else? When you stand here claiming to like Qiao Nuo, do you even realize what you're saying? Do you know, or does your grandfather know, that you have become the third party in someone else's marriage?"
"Aside from the legal proof of your relationship, what else do you have to be arrogant about? Qiao Nuo could divorce you at any moment!" Yan Beiting said this with a hint of uncertainty; he wasn't sure if Qiao Nuo truly intended to divorce Jin Chengyan.
This matter had become widely known across the country, and whether or not Qiao Nuo divorced would have significant implications for her.
Of course, he couldn't make that decision for her!
"But we are legal; you are not!" Jin Chengyan retorted confidently. That legal proof was his trump card. "Moreover, I am Qiao Nuo's first man."
Yan Beiting tightened his grip, causing Jin Chengyan to struggle for breath, yet he still did not retaliate, allowing Yan Beiting to hold onto his collar!
The police outside watched the commotion as if two rival gangs were fighting over a woman. However, despite being alone, Yan Beiting had the upper hand at that moment since he was gripping the leader's collar while Jin Chengyan did not fight back.
As police officers, they could not allow the situation to escalate further!
"Sir in the dress shirt, please release the man in front of you immediately, or we will take action. Furthermore, you are severely obstructing traffic; we have the right to take all of you back to the station." Initially, they had stood by because they didn't want to provoke either side; after all, both seemed to have significant backgrounds.
However, as the situation developed to this extent, it seemed they could no longer stand idly by.
"Hey! I told you to let go! Otherwise, we'll take you to the station," Jin Chengyan said nonchalantly while casting a sidelong glance at Qiao Nuo in the passenger seat.
She had woken up, draped in Yan Beiting's coat, sitting numbly in the passenger seat and watching the scene unfold outside without saying a word or making any move—even refraining from getting out of the car.
Seeing Qiao Nuo like this made Jin Chengyan disregard whether Yan Beiting was still holding onto his collar and forcefully pushed him away.
All that gentlemanly behavior had been an act; when it came to Yan Beiting, he could pretend as much as he wanted because he believed Yan Beiting was nothing but a hypocrite!
Yan Beiting, pushed aside, followed Jin Chengyan's gaze and saw Qiao Nuo waking up in the passenger seat.
Her expression was indifferent, as if everything happening outside had nothing to do with her.
Indeed, even if Jin Chengyan and Yan Beiting were to fight until blood flowed like rivers, it would have no bearing on Qiao Nuo at all.
She simply felt that they were blocking the highway, obstructing the vehicles trying to pass!
Jin Chengyan took two steps toward Qiao Nuo's car, and Yan Beiting followed closely behind, trying to stop him.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Nuo had already unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.
Qiao Nuo walked over to Jin Chengyan and Yan Beiting, gently placing her hand on Yan Beiting's wrist.
Jin Chengyan was furious at the sight.
“Qiao Nuo, let him go!” It was only when he encountered Qiao Nuo that he realized he was someone who couldn't tolerate even the slightest flaw. For instance, right now, he was extremely unwilling to see Qiao Nuo's hand resting on Yan Beiting's.
Qiao Nuo ignored him and gently pried open Yan Beiting's hand that was holding onto Jin Chengyan's, finally releasing Yan Beiting's wrist.
Seeing Qiao Nuo's actions, Jin Chengyan felt somewhat relieved; she only wanted to free her hand from Yan Beiting’s grasp!
“Qiao Nuo, come with me.” Staying with Yan Beiting made Jin Chengyan uneasy; he worried that they might gang up on him and beat Yan Beiting up.
“Why should she go with you just because you say so? She may have a legal document with you, but she is still free!” Yan Beiting immediately defended Qiao Nuo.
Although his current situation was somewhat awkward, helping Qiao Nuo like this could easily lead others to misunderstand their relationship.
But he just liked Qiao Nuo, a fact that could not be concealed.
Jin Chengyan had truly had enough of Yan Beiting. It should be a case of many bullying the few; he wanted his bodyguards to give Yan Beiting a good beating and then dump him on the road, leaving him to figure out how to return to Qin Cheng!
As for what would happen next, that could be dealt with later!
"You want me to go with you, but have you resolved things with Ruan Shengyu? Or is she dead?" Qiao Nuo smiled slightly, casually mentioning Ruan Shengyu's fate.
This statement sent a chill down Jin Chengyan's spine. Was this really something Qiao Nuo would say?
He grabbed Qiao Nuo's wrist with a grip that was frighteningly strong. "Do you even know what you're saying?"
Qiao Nuo showed no concern for the pressure on her wrist. "Is it wrong for me to care whether someone who wants to kill me is alive or dead?"
"Qiao Nuo!"
"Jin Chengyan!" Qiao Nuo responded in a voice that matched his intensity. "Isn't it a bit excessive for you to send so many cars to intercept me? You don't need to worry about me doing anything outrageous with Yan Beiting. After all, I'm not like you—able to enjoy one person's company while spending the night with another! If you don't find it disgusting, I certainly do!"
Qiao Nuo shook off Jin Chengyan's hand.
"I will go back, and I will divorce you!" Qiao Nuo finally declared this decision. "Don't talk to me about treaties; such things are not worth discussing unless you want everyone to know!"
Only Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan understood the weight of her last words.
But Yan Beiting heard it too—Qiao Nuo was going to divorce Jin Chengyan!
Jin Chengyan naturally heard it as well—Qiao Nuo wanted a divorce!
How is that possible!
"Do you even know what you're saying? Take those two words back!" He couldn't care less that Yan Beiting was here; he just wanted Qiao Nuo to retract her statement!
"The words once spoken are like water poured out; they can't be taken back," Qiao Nuo offered no hope to Jin Chengyan!
Jin Chengyan's temples throbbed; he had initiated this marriage, and the end? That was not for Qiao Nuo to decide!
He pulled Qiao Nuo's hand again, leading her towards his car.
Yan Beiting naturally couldn't let Jin Chengyan take Qiao Nuo away. He grabbed Jin Chengyan's arm with considerable force.
The three of them froze again, each unwilling to back down, so they remained in this standoff.
"Yan Beiting, don't force me to disregard our families' ties and leave you here. You know I can do it!" Jin Chengyan was capable of anything.
"I've tolerated you for many years, Jin Chengyan!"
"Oh, finally speaking your mind? If you have the guts, don't hold back! Let's see what your true capabilities are, Yan Beiting!"
"You think I..."
"Enough! Both of you let go!" Qiao Nuo couldn't help but interrupt the back-and-forth between the two men. Otherwise, who knew when they would stop?
Jin Chengyan and Yan Beiting both turned to look at Qiao Nuo.
"Jin Chengyan, I told you I won't go with you, and I mean it." Qiao Nuo recalled how Jin Chengyan had once taken her away in a helicopter, using both soft and hard tactics to make her submit to him.
She was tired of immersing herself in the joy of being with him. She couldn't refuse it; surely she could find a way to escape!
“If you really want to sit down and talk with me, please deal with Ruan Shengyu first. She committed suicide today. What are you so anxious about? When she was about to kill me, what was your reaction? Don’t say you love me! Is it just my body that you love?” Qiao Nuo said in a low voice, yet her tone was equally frantic. “Yan Beiting, let’s go.”
She pushed Jin Chengyan's hand away and got into Yan Beiting's car first!
And she took the driver's seat!
Yan Beiting didn’t look at Jin Chengyan either, but when he saw Qiao Nuo in the driver's seat, he got into the passenger side.
“Beep beep beep—” Qiao Nuo pressed the horn, the piercing sound reaching Jin Chengyan's ears and the ears of everyone present.
Jin Chengyan stood in front of Yan Beiting's car, unmoving.
Qiao Nuo kept pressing the horn, incessantly!
The two of them locked eyes through the windshield, neither willing to look away first.
Qiao Nuo started the car, revving the engine while keeping her foot on the brake. The roar of the engine was deafening, and in that moment of determination, it felt as if Qiao Nuo would drive right over Jin Chengyan if he didn’t move!
Jin Chengyan had never known that Qiao Nuo could be so resolute. She could be affectionate and humble in love, but she could also be heartless; when she said no, she meant it without any hesitation or lingering attachment.
As for Yan Beiting, he wondered if Qiao Nuo would really press forward and run over Jin Chengyan! After all, someone driven by anger could do anything.
“I’ll wait for you at home,” Jin Chengyan mouthed. Qiao Nuo saw it but didn’t respond at all—not even with a glance.
Then, Jin Chengyan stepped aside!
He stepped aside, clearing the way for Qiao Nuo ahead.
With a simple gesture, all the cars surrounding Yan Beiting moved aside!
The path ahead was unobstructed, and without a moment's hesitation, Qiao Nuo drove out!
With a swift motion, Yan Beiting's vehicle accelerated effortlessly, quickly becoming just a small dot on the empty highway.
Jin Chengyan stood alone in the cold wind, surrounded by more than a dozen cars behind him, like a solitary king.
"Chase after their car!"
Then came the scene where Yan Beiting's SUV was flanked by black cars maintaining a certain distance on all sides. No matter how Qiao Nuo drove, she couldn't escape Jin Chengyan's encirclement!
Qiao Nuo decided not to push her luck; since Jin Chengyan's people were willing to clear the way for her, she would accept it!
Watching the cars outside, Yan Beiting felt a slight headache.
He knew that Jin Chengyan would not let go so easily this time! His feelings for Qiao Nuo were no longer just about possession; perhaps he had truly fallen in love with her.
Yan Beiting turned to look at Qiao Nuo, who was focused on driving. Was she serious when she said she wanted to divorce Jin Chengyan?
"I'm sorry for making your relationship with Jin Chengyan even worse," Qiao Nuo said apologetically.
In truth, that was not her intention. When she had been crying in despair in the elevator, it was Yan Beiting who appeared and took her away from that place, helping her emerge from her sorrow.
So for a moment, she forgot about the deep misunderstandings between Yan Beiting and Jin Chengyan.
"Have you remembered everything?"
"Haha," Qiao Nuo chuckled self-deprecatingly. "If I couldn't remember after such a shock, then I would truly be pretending to have amnesia."
"You shouldn't have to go through those things." From the very beginning, Yan Beiting had told Qiao Nuo that love should make a person better, not lead her to suffer.
But at that time, Qiao Nuo only wanted her father to receive better treatment, her younger brother to be able to attend school, and for the Qiao family to survive! She had no other choice.
"I had no choice. I was deceived by my ex-boyfriend and someone I thought was a good friend. My family went bankrupt, my father was gravely ill, and my younger brother was immature. I was powerless; the only way to ensure the safety of those I cared about was to sell myself. Wouldn't you do such a profitable deal?" Qiao Nuo coldly revealed the secret she had long hidden in her heart.
Perhaps she truly didn't care anymore; perhaps she genuinely wanted to free herself from the entanglement with Jin Chengyan, which is why she spoke so openly.
Yan Beiting was momentarily speechless upon hearing the truth from Qiao Nuo's lips.
He had suspected from the start that there was more to Qiao Nuo's marriage with Jin Chengyan than met the eye, but he never expected his suspicions to be confirmed.
Yet knowing the truth didn't bring Yan Beiting any joy; in fact, he felt a twinge of regret for having speculated in the first place.
He disliked how Qiao Nuo described it as "selling herself."
"Jin Chengyan clearly warned me not to fall in love with him! But here I am, foolishly ignoring his advice and throwing myself at him. Don’t you think I sound particularly pitiful?" She said this with a hint of a smile, deliberately belittling herself.
"Qiao Nuo, stop saying that!" Yan Beiting couldn't bear to hear her demean herself like this.
Qiao Nuo looked at the car ahead of them; Jin Chengyan was inside. She knew it.
As the car passed theirs, she caught a glimpse of the man she had thrown herself into loving through the window!
However, she was never taken seriously.
Having been framed, kidnapped, and even on the verge of being killed, his first thought was not of her, but rather how to protect his old flame!
"I love him, from my soul to my body. But a man's love is divided; he can love Ruan Shengyu while being with me! Even just now, when he asked me to go with him, I hesitated about whether I should follow him. When I said I wanted a divorce, it was just to provoke him, forcing him to choose between me and Ruan Shengyu!
"If he begged me, I would forgive him. I would continue to be with him because I love him! Because I can't leave him! Even if our marriage has been a lie from the very beginning..."
"Qiao Nuo, I've told you, stop talking!" Yan Beiting interrupted Qiao Nuo completely; he couldn't bear to listen any longer.
Qiao Nuo spoke each word like a knife, stabbing into Yan Beiting's heart.
He had never wanted to face the reality of Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan's marriage, solely believing that their union was fake and that they would never truly be together; that Qiao Nuo was still pure and untainted!
But hearing Qiao Nuo speak so openly about her moments with Jin Chengyan, especially when it came to their intimacy, pushed Yan Beiting's patience to its limit.
"Yes, Yan Beiting, I am such a pathetic woman, so please don’t do anything for me anymore! Once we return to Qin Cheng, you should just leave. The rest is between me and Jin Chengyan, and you shouldn’t interfere! It’s not worth it." Not worth it to invest in a woman who has willingly fallen from grace!
Yan Beiting fell silent; Qiao Nuo's words indeed struck him hard. Yes, this woman is Jin Chengyan's wife—no matter how you look at it, she has both name and reality!
He, Yan Beiting, is the Third Young Master of the Yan Family, the heir of Yan Fei, a young master whom countless women aspire to be with. Why then was he so infatuated with Qiao Nuo? Why did he care so much for a woman who didn’t love him, even risking a fallout with Jin Chengyan for her?
There might only be one answer.
He loved her—deeply.
"Qiao Nuo, in love there is never worth or unworthiness; there is only willingness or unwillingness. Whatever I do for you is out of my own desire; I believe you are worth it, therefore you are." Yan Beiting turned his gaze away and looked out the window.
Qiao Nuo was exceptionally skilled at rejecting others, even at the cost of tarnishing her own reputation.
It was precisely this kind of rejection that made Yan Beiting feel even more miserable. What kind of love did Qiao Nuo have for Jin Chengyan that would lead her to make such mistakes?
But love, after all, has no logic. She knew very well that all Jin Chengyan brought her was pain, yet as she had said, she was willing to fly into the fire!
After nearly five hours on the road, Yan Beiting drove for the first two hours, and then Qiao Nuo took over. Aside from that brief conversation, neither of them spoke again.
Jin Chengyan's convoy forced Qiao Nuo to drive right up to Jin Mansion.
It was a place she felt she hadn't returned to in a long time!
"Goodbye." Qiao Nuo unbuckled her seatbelt with a snap. "You will find your own happiness."
Yan Beiting watched as Qiao Nuo left without a trace of reluctance, just as she had walked away from Jin Chengyan moments earlier.
Qiao Nuo entered Jin Mansion with Jin Chengyan, only to find Jin Zhongshu waiting inside, along with a man whom Qiao Nuo did not recognize. However, upon seeing him, Jin Chengyan's brow furrowed in displeasure; he appeared to be of a similar age to Jin Zhongshu.
Instinctively, Jin Chengyan moved to shield Qiao Nuo behind him.
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