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墨書 Inktalez
“I heard you wanted to see me.” In the VIP ward, Jin Chengyan found himself outside the door, facing the bodyguard sent by Liu Mingzhang to protect Ruan Shengyu.
Jin Zhongshu was also in this hospital, and it seemed that the Jin Family and the Liu Family had begun a subtle competition, both overtly and covertly.
The people sent by Liu Mingzhang approached Jin Chengyan to inform him that Ruan Shengyu wished to meet him.
She hadn’t used a phone or any form of communication; instead, she had sent someone from Liu Mingzhang’s side. This filled Jin Chengyan with a deep-seated resentment.
Yet he still came, curious to hear what Ruan Shengyu had to say.
“Look, this is the first dress you gave me. Even now, it still looks as good as new.” Ruan Shengyu sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the neatly arranged floral dress laid out before her.
It was a gift from six years ago, a surprise he had wanted to give her with his first earnings.
But he had only seen her wear it once.
“Because it was a gift from you, I never wanted to wear it. I didn’t want to ruin it. So all these years have passed, and it still looks new, doesn’t it?” Ruan Shengyu’s gaze remained fixed on the dress, as if lost in memories from long ago.
“I thought you didn’t like it,” Jin Chengyan said, reminiscing about the past.
“How could I not like it? It was the first gift I ever received. You have no idea how much I cherished it. Every memory you gave me is something I hold dear. Every gift you’ve given me is carefully stored away. I feared that if one day you left me, I could hold onto those things to get through life.” Her eyes lost focus. “But I realized I couldn’t do that. Looking at these things only reminds me of our happy times together, making it hard to accept that you are gone.”
Ruan Shengyu closed her eyes as tears slipped down her cheeks, falling onto the dress and leaving behind a mark.
“I know I should wish you happiness and celebrate your true love… true love…” She choked on her words. “But here… it hurts so much.”
She placed her hand over her heart, gripping her clothing tightly; the veins on her hand bulged from the strain. How much strength she must have been using.
“I contemplated suicide not just as a way to atone for my sins but because I can’t bear to live in this world and watch you be affectionate with someone else. I don’t want to see you happy with another woman when I’m alone. Why won’t you even let me die?”
The scar on her hand was covered by gauze, but Jin Chengyan knew just how hideous the wound was beneath it.
“Ruan Shengyu, it’s all over now.” He guessed that she might be trying to escape the prison of her own making, which was why she acted this way in front of him.
She probably thought he couldn’t bear to leave her unattended.
Indeed, Jin Chengyan could not remain indifferent when he saw Ruan Shengyu so isolated and helpless.
But the premise was that she had to be alone.
“For you, everything is over, but for me, it has just begun. From now on, every day, I can only live with memories of you. Are you really going to be this cruel to me?” Ruan Shengyu wiped her tears and looked directly at Jin Chengyan.
“You don’t need to rush to accuse me. If you really want to salvage this, would you call Liu Mingzhang? You can’t possibly be unaware of his relationship with the Jin Family, right?” Jin Chengyan’s words were cold and cutting.
Ruan Shengyu was taken aback for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
“Since you left me, I have been utterly alone. Am I not allowed to seek help from someone? Don’t you know that it’s your Jin Family that ordered my banishment? I can’t get any work; my reputation is ruined. How do you expect me to survive? How am I supposed to live?” In saying this, she was merely protecting herself; she had done nothing wrong.
Jin Chengyan frowned.
“What if I let you sever ties with Liu Mingzhang right now? Would you agree?”
“Then I’ll let you divorce Qiao Nuo. You divorce her, and I’ll immediately cut ties with Liu Mingzhang!”
“That’s two different matters!”
“To me, it’s one and the same.”
After a brief argument, no unified answer was reached.
"How about we each take a step back?" Ruan Shengyu said softly, not wanting to provoke Jin Chengyan. She didn’t want to leave him.
Jin Chengyan raised an eyebrow at Ruan Shengyu. What did taking a step back even mean? How could they possibly retreat?
"Can we be as good as we were before? You can come see me from time to time, and we can be free of any grudges. I’m gradually drifting apart from Liu Mingzhang; you know he has significant influence, and he has truly done me a favor. If I turn my back on him, I won’t be able to live with myself." This arrangement seemed to be the best option for now!
However, Jin Chengyan remained silent, his eyes reflecting an inscrutable depth. It was unclear whether he would agree.
"Do you realize that by doing this, you’re putting yourself in the position of the third party? I haven’t divorced Qiao Nuo yet."
If Ruan Shengyu maintained that kind of relationship with him, then without a doubt, she would be the third party. Had she not considered this?
The term flashed in Ruan Shengyu's mind, causing her face to flush red. Did she not understand that her actions placed her in the role of a third party?
She simply hadn’t voiced it, yet Jin Chengyan bluntly stated it, leaving her momentarily stunned.
Jin Chengyan was showing her no mercy at all!
"Alright." Just when Ruan Shengyu felt despair, Jin Chengyan’s light-hearted voice felt like a lifeline!
She looked at Jin Chengyan in disbelief, her eyes filled with surprise.
"But you know that Qiao Nuo is not someone to be easily manipulated. If she finds out about us, there will be a huge uproar, and she might escalate things regarding how you previously hurt her. So..."
"Okay, I will keep it a secret. This matter will only be known to the two of us. As long as you’re by my side, I’ll be content!" Ruan Shengyu quickly agreed.
Having acted in so many films, how could she not know what a qualified third party should do?
She just never expected that the time would come for her to be the third party!
Jin Chengyan nodded, "But your relationship with Liu Mingzhang..." He deliberately left his sentence unfinished, wanting Ruan Shengyu to speak for herself.
She hesitated for a moment, "He is my benefactor, treats me very well, and has never had any improper thoughts about me. He really treats me like a daughter..."
However, when she looked back at Jin Chengyan, those conflicting feelings faded away. After all, the person who could accompany her for a lifetime was Jin Chengyan, not Liu Mingzhang.
"Don't worry, I will gradually distance myself from him and support you from behind," Ruan Shengyu resolved.
With Ruan Shengyu's decision made, Jin Chengyan also had his own plans.
"Alright, you're almost recovered now. I'll arrange for you to be discharged from the hospital and not stay in your original apartment. I'm afraid reporters might show up. It's best if no one knows about your discharge—neither Liu Mingzhang nor Qiao Nuo—so we can avoid unnecessary complications."
Ruan Shengyu simply nodded. Since they had come this far, she would naturally follow Jin Chengyan's lead.
Everything was arranged perfectly. Jin Chengyan seemed to have solved a difficult problem, and his heart felt lighter as the confidence he once had returned to his demeanor.
As they were leaving, Ruan Shengyu asked him, "A Yan, you still love me, right?"
Jin Chengyan's lips curled into a slight smile, just like every time he had smiled at her in the past. He didn't answer but didn't deny it either.
...
Qiao Nuo brought over the lunch prepared for Jin Zhongshu by the Jin family. Jin Zhongshu had already woken up but was often in and out of sleep. When he was awake, he wanted to eat the porridge cooked at home.
She went back to get it herself and also brought a change of clothes for Jin Chengyan. Over the past couple of days, Jin Chengyan had been taking care of him without leaving his side.
Although Jin Chengyan usually called Jin Zhongshu "old man" in a teasing manner, he was genuinely concerned about his father.
When the elevator reached their floor, Qiao Nuo stepped out just as Jin Chengyan's elevator arrived, and they both emerged at the same time.
Qiao Nuo paused for a moment, instinctively glancing at the elevator display. Jin Chengyan had come down from above, while she had come up from below, so they hadn't crossed paths on the first floor.
Noticing that Qiao Nuo was carrying something heavy, Jin Chengyan stepped forward to help her. "Why didn’t you let someone bring you over? This is so heavy."
In addition to the lunch she had prepared for Jin Zhongshu, there were also some toiletries.
Qiao Nuo's gaze returned from the elevator display. "You came down from upstairs!" She knew Ruan Shengyu was in a hospital room on the upper floor.
"You went to see Ruan Shengyu," it was more of a statement than a question.
Jin Chengyan's hand froze for a moment as he replied, "No." He said it so naturally and smoothly. "The old man's attending physician is in the office upstairs; I went to ask about his condition."
It seemed plausible enough.
However, Qiao Nuo felt uneasy. She looked at Jin Chengyan with a hint of resignation. "I must be really annoying like this, right?"
Jin Chengyan gazed at her and gently rubbed her cheek with his other hand. "Not at all."
Qiao Nuo quickly pulled away; they were not in that kind of relationship right now. How could they act so intimately without any awkwardness?
Jin Chengyan's hand lingered in the air, feeling somewhat awkward.
Qiao Nuo paid no mind to anything else and walked into the hospital room with the thermos in hand.
Upon opening the door, she saw the nurse chatting with Jin Zhongshu, who had apparently woken up.
"Young Madam, Mr. Jin was just asking where you all went!"
Qiao Nuo looked at Jin Zhongshu on the bed; he seemed to be in much better spirits. She thought it would be a good idea to call Yu Xin to come and see him. Otherwise, Yu Xin would be stuck feeling gloomy all day, worrying but too afraid to visit the hospital and see Jin Zhongshu, not knowing when he would wake up. That would undoubtedly be a torment.
"I brought some porridge that Auntie made for Dad. He can have a bit when he wakes up," Qiao Nuo said as she hurriedly placed the porridge on the table. She wanted him to eat a little when he woke up; otherwise, if he fell asleep again, he wouldn’t be able to eat.
At that moment, Jin Chengyan also entered the room. Seeing that Jin Zhongshu was awake, he exchanged a glance with him.
Qiao Nuo scooped some porridge into a bowl and held it in her hands. After a moment's thought, she said to Jin Chengyan, "You should feed Dad."
Jin Chengyan had never done anything like this before, but since Qiao Nuo suggested it, he couldn’t refuse. He took the bowl and sat down in front of the bed.
Qiao Nuo adjusted the bed slightly so that Jin Zhongshu was half-reclining. His complexion appeared slightly rosy, likely due to the air conditioning in the room.
When Jin Zhongshu saw his son preparing to feed him porridge, he felt a bit shy, probably for the first time experiencing such concern from his son.
However, Jin Zhongshu's appetite wasn't great. He ended up only drinking half of the bowl of porridge that had not been filled completely to begin with and shook his head to indicate he didn’t want any more.
Jin Chengyan could only set the bowl aside and wiped his father's mouth gently.
"A Yan..." Jin Zhongshu sighed deeply and called out his son's name.
"Yes, I'm here," Jin Chengyan replied.
“Qiao Nuo.”
“I’m here.” Qiao Nuo quickly approached Jin Zhongshu upon hearing her name, looking at him intently.
Seeing his son and daughter-in-law standing before him brought Jin Zhongshu a sense of comfort. He reached out, taking the hands of Jin Chengyan and Qiao Nuo, placing them together.
In truth, Qiao Nuo felt a bit reluctant. After all, what if Jin Chengyan had really gone to find Ruan Shengyu? Had they embraced? Had they said anything to each other?
Qiao Nuo thought it was rather silly of her to dwell on such thoughts.
“I’ve come this far; all I can hope for is that you two are well. A harmonious family leads to prosperity! Don’t let trivial matters interfere with your feelings for each other. You two are just like your mother and me back in the day. After weathering storms, you will eventually see the sunshine,” Jin Zhongshu’s weak voice echoed.
Qiao Nuo was somewhat puzzled as to why he chose to say such things now.
However, Jin Chengyan immediately responded, “Dad, why are you saying this at a time like this? Once you’re better, just watch us being happy together. I promise we’ll be even more affectionate than you and Mom were back then!”
Affectionate...
Qiao Nuo muttered the word in her heart, feeling a chill run down her spine.
“I never doubted that. But… my health is failing. I still hope to see grandchildren in my lifetime, so you two need to work hard!”
Qiao Nuo’s face instantly flushed. How were they supposed to work hard on that? What could they even do?
Then, Jin Zhongshu fell asleep, drifting off peacefully…
Qiao Nuo: “…”
Because Jin Zhongshu had fallen asleep, Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan stepped out of the hospital room and sat in the living room outside.
Initially, they were sitting a bit apart, with Qiao Nuo scrolling through Weibo on her phone, unsure of what else to do. To her surprise, Jin Chengyan gradually moved closer and closer until Qiao Nuo found herself cornered on the sofa.
Finally unable to tolerate it any longer, Qiao Nuo put her phone down and turned to glare at Jin Chengyan.
However, she found him gazing at her with deep affection, causing the anger she had built up to dissipate entirely. It was hard to stay mad at a man like him.
"Could you move over a bit? You're crowding me," Qiao Nuo said as she pushed against Jin Chengyan, but he didn’t budge.
Instead, he pressed her hand against his chest. After struggling for a moment without success, she resigned herself to leaving her hand resting there, feeling the strong and steady beat of his heart beneath her palm.
"Qiao Nuo, the old man said he wants a grandchild."
"Oh, we can let Chu Yuxiu come over later for him to hold. But right now, Dad probably doesn’t have the strength to hold Chu Yuxiu," Qiao Nuo replied. She understood perfectly what Jin Chengyan was implying but pretended not to comprehend, using Chu Yuxiu as a diversion.
"Chu Yuxiu is your daughter’s child; the one you and I have together would be our own grandchild," Jin Chengyan said as he leaned closer to Qiao Nuo. His strong masculine presence enveloped her, making her feel somewhat… restless.
"Do you think having a baby is that easy? Just because you say we can have one doesn’t mean we can," Qiao Nuo turned her face away. As long as she didn’t look at Jin Chengyan, everything would be fine!
"Having a baby is just about you and me..." Suddenly, Jin Chengyan leaned in close to her ear and whispered something that made Qiao Nuo's face flush instantly.
She knew this man well; despite his polished appearance in a suit, once he took it off, he was entirely different. He could say things that made Qiao Nuo feel embarrassed—completely unlike the Jin Chengyan everyone else knew.
But that side of him held a unique charm.
In short, it left Qiao Nuo feeling a flutter of excitement in her heart.
She pushed Jin Chengyan away, her expression stern. "This is a hospital, can you tone it down a bit? Besides, I don't want to... you know, right now."
Qiao Nuo realized that ever since Jin Chengyan had said that, she could no longer look at that activity directly. Her mind was filled with those scenes, and it was almost intoxicating!
Jin Chengyan watched Qiao Nuo's flushed face with satisfaction.
He took her hand seriously and said, "Qiao Nuo, let's have a child together, or maybe two. I want to build a happy family with you—just you and me, and our children."
His eyes were filled with sincerity, making it impossible for Qiao Nuo to detect any insincerity.
Qiao Nuo hesitated. This was undoubtedly a huge temptation for her. She longed for a happy family, one with the person she loved and their children. If such a family were possible, she would be willing to sacrifice everything to make it happen.
So when Jin Chengyan made this request, Qiao Nuo felt her heart stir.
"Is that okay? I know you also want a stable family. What I can offer you is just that—it's all I have. Do you want it?"
"Do you want it?" That question hit Qiao Nuo like cotton candy, striking her soft heart.
Seeing Qiao Nuo's slight hesitation, Jin Chengyan leaned in and kissed her. He held her hand against his waist while his other hand caressed the back of her neck, sending shivers through her entire body.
She felt like she was about to suffocate; her heart raced as if it were lodged in her throat. Qiao Nuo thought she might not be able to breathe.
She should push this man away; otherwise, she would end up like last time—completely overwhelmed and quickly surrendering to him, lost in his tenderness.
But after each moment of gentleness, Jin Chengyan would deliver a fatal blow!
No, Qiao Nuo didn't want this!
She pushed Jin Chengyan away, his scent still lingering on her lips, yet she did so without hesitation.
“Jin Chengyan, do you know that a child's birth should come with the blessings of their parents and the prayers of their family? I don’t want my child to be born into a world filled with pressure from all sides. I’ll say it again: if you resolve your troubles, I will be with you unconditionally. If not, don’t touch me again.” Qiao Nuo declared firmly, standing up and quickly leaving the hospital room.
Jin Chengyan leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his temples with one hand.
He closed his eyes lightly, a hint of fatigue on his face.
Alright, he was getting a bit anxious. But what could he do? Ever since he saw Qiao Nuo, he couldn’t help but want to possess her; he couldn’t stand even a moment of not being able to touch her. This feeling of being so close yet so far was truly unbearable.
Those issues really needed to be resolved quickly!
…
Once outside the hospital, Qiao Nuo wandered aimlessly down the street. What had just happened was truly a misfire; her resistance in front of Jin Chengyan felt utterly worthless!
From now on, she really couldn’t be alone with Jin Chengyan anymore; otherwise, he always had ways to break down her self-control.
But then there was Jin Zhongshu’s words—he wanted to hold his grandchild.
Qiao Nuo had heard the doctor’s report about Jin Zhongshu’s condition and knew that his health was very serious; it was likely he wouldn’t last another year. The old man’s last hope was simply to hold his grandchild. If they worked hard now, it was very possible that a child could be born in ten months.
Every time she saw Jin Zhongshu, Qiao Nuo couldn’t help but think of her own father. She hadn’t been able to fulfill her filial duties properly before her father passed away.
So she didn’t want Jin Zhongshu to have any regrets; that was the least she could do as a younger generation for an elder.
But a child…
Qiao Nuo truly did not want to make a hasty decision; after all, it was a matter of life. If she really had a child with Jin Chengyan, what if he still had unresolved feelings for Ruan Shengyu?
She somewhat believed that Jin Chengyan genuinely wanted to build a life with her. However, the most terrifying thing in this world was a persistent mistress; they always found ways to drive a wedge between couples.
Moreover, Ruan Shengyu was Jin Chengyan's first love.
The significance of first love was an indelible chapter for men.
Thinking about it, Qiao Nuo felt utterly confused.
So for the past couple of days, she tried her best to avoid being with Jin Chengyan. However, she wasn't idle; she met with Xiao Yuanshan and brought along a lawyer.
Regarding Ruan Shengyu's deliberate attempt to harm her, she could not let it slide.
After meeting with Xiao Yuanshan, Qiao Nuo felt a bit down. Now, what stood in her way was not just Jin Chengyan but also Liu Mingzhang!
After parting ways with the lawyer, Qiao Nuo headed towards Jin Mansion. Unexpectedly, after taking just a few steps, she was seized by several strong men and quickly shoved into a black sedan.
By the time Qiao Nuo realized what was happening, she found herself next to Liu Mingzhang.
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