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Four years ago...
In the cold operating room, the lights blazed brightly. Qiao Nuo lay on the surgical table, her gown stained red with blood, yet her lifeless eyes remained open, staring at the blinding lights above.
She could feel the sharp pain of the knife piercing her chest and sensed Jin Chengyan's helplessness.
She knew he didn't mean to hurt her.
When both she and Ruan Shengyu were hanging by a thread, he chose to hold onto her.
But she had spiraled into a corner, always seeking an outlet for her emotions in the face of misunderstanding.
“Mrs. Jin, we are about to administer anesthesia!” a nurse said in her ear, going through the motions.
Qiao Nuo saw that the anesthetist was ready, about to inject the anesthetic into her body!
“Wait! Mrs. Jin seems to be pregnant! The hCG levels are over ten! The surgery needs to be rescheduled, and the dosage of anesthesia must be reduced; otherwise, it could harm the fetus!”
“But Mrs. Jin has lost so much blood; whether the child can be saved is still a question!”
“Go ask Jin Shao what he wants to do.”
“I...” Qiao Nuo raised her hand. It was only when she heard about her pregnancy that she felt a flicker of clarity emerge from the endless darkness.
Doctors gathered around Qiao Nuo, looking at her pale face, their eyes filled with endless despair.
“I want this... child.” Qiao Nuo clutched tightly at the nearest doctor's sterile gown, desperately hoping to hold onto this child.
If there was no love left, could she not even keep this child?
“Alright, let's reschedule the surgery!”
...
Qiao Nuo and Ji Xining were reminiscing about events from four years ago. As they spoke, Ji Xining's tears flowed continuously. The scene was heart-wrenching; even for Ji Xining, who was merely listening, it felt painful.
“Later on, I lost the baby. The doctor told me that I was basically destined to never be a mother. That's why I asked Qiao Kawai to call me 'Mom.' I thought maybe Qiao Kawai could be my other child. I’ve always treated her like my own daughter. But Xi Ning, do you understand that feeling? After that, I had no contact with Jin Chengyan anymore. The only connection left was the child, the only proof that he and I had truly been together.”
Otherwise, as the years passed and Qiao Nuo's memory faded, she might start to feel as if she had never been with Jin Chengyan at all—that those years were just a dream.
“But your health is fragile. I'm worried about you during childbirth…”
“I will take good care of myself. I'll hire a nutritionist to help me get my body in shape. You have to believe me; everything will be fine.” Qiao Nuo was trying to convince Ji Xining while also reassuring herself.
But ultimately, Ji Xining couldn’t make decisions for Qiao Nuo or change her mind. She could only inform her of the possible outcomes. Whether or not to keep the child was entirely up to Qiao Nuo.
“So, are you going to tell Jin Chengyan?”
Hearing Jin Chengyan's name made Qiao Nuo pause for a moment.
Should she say it or not?
Now he had a woman by his side, someone he was satisfied with. What would be the point of telling him? It might only add to his troubles.
“No, in a few days, I’ll go to Switzerland with Qiao Kawai.”
“If you go to Switzerland, who will take care of you? I should come with you! Once you give birth, I'll return. It’s not easy for us to see each other again; I don’t want to part ways so soon!”
“Do you really want to leave Warm Sun behind?”
Hearing the words "warm sun," Ji Xining's cheeks flushed slightly.
Later, the doctor prescribed medication for Qiao Nuo, specifically for pregnant women, and advised her to return to the hospital for regular check-ups. Her health condition was not ideal, and if she wanted to keep the baby, she had to strictly follow the doctor's instructions.
As she reached the door, Qiao Nuo noticed two cars parked outside the villa. The license plates looked familiar, but she couldn't recall them at that moment.
Once inside the house, Qiao Nuo realized who had come to visit.
Jin Mengxi's parents.
Qiao Nuo quickly placed the medication into the nearest drawer and shot Ji Xining a glance, signaling her to keep quiet.
"Mr. Jin, Mrs. Jin," Qiao Nuo greeted, sensing that the atmosphere in the living room was not very pleasant. She guessed that these two had come to discuss Jin Mengxi.
"Sis, why do you look so unwell? Are you feeling sick?" Qiao Chen, oblivious to Jin Mengxi's parents being present, rushed over with concern upon seeing his sister's pale face.
Qiao Kawai, who had been sitting with Qiao Chen, also felt the awkwardness in the air. When she saw Qiao Nuo return, she immediately jumped off the sofa and ran towards her.
"Mommy, Little Daddy and the new grandpa and grandma are arguing. I'm scared," Qiao Kawai said in Italian, clearly frightened.
Qiao Nuo shot a glare at Qiao Chen. Why did he leave Qiao Kawai downstairs when he had matters to discuss with Jin Mengxi's parents? The little girl had just undergone surgery; how could she handle such a scene?
"Xi Ning, can you take Little Kawai upstairs to play for a bit? I need to..."
"Sure, just be careful," Ji Xining replied knowingly before taking Qiao Kawai upstairs.
"Sis, what's going on? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" Qiao Chen asked worriedly, completely ignoring Jin Mengxi's parents at that moment.
Qiao Nuo wasn't sure what had happened between Qiao Chen and Jin Mengxi, but from the looks of it, it didn't seem like a good thing.
“Qiao Nuo, we came here today to tell you that if Qiao Chen does not marry our Xi Er, we have plenty of ways to make your Qiao Family disappear completely from Qin Cheng,” Jin Mengxi's father stood up and threatened.
So this was the reason.
But back then, when Qiao Nuo wanted the two to marry, Jin Mengxi's parents were firmly opposed. How could their stance change so quickly?
As for Qiao Chen, he seemed indifferent to the matter.
“Mr. Jin, I initially…”
“Sister, this is my own marriage. I hope you won’t interfere. Besides, I already have a girlfriend. My relationship with Jin Mengxi is in the past,” Qiao Chen stated calmly, revealing that after breaking up with Jin Mengxi, he was now with someone else.
“Qiao Chen, you—our Xi Er lost her baby because of your infidelity, and you still dare to say such things!” Mrs. Jin scolded Qiao Chen, her face flushed with anger.
“A man is unmarried and a woman is unmarried; my relationship with Jin Mengxi was based on mutual consent. No one can guarantee that a man will be with only one woman for his entire life! If feelings fade, it’s tormenting for both parties to remain entangled. Jin Mengxi is fine now; you’ve said before that there are plenty of men waiting to marry into your Jin Family. Why come looking for me?”
“Qiao Chen!” Qiao Nuo truly did not understand where Qiao Chen's reasoning came from. If she were in Jin Mengxi's shoes and heard these words, she would surely be furious!
“Sister, I’m sorry to worry you. I’ll handle things here myself; you should go check on the little one. She got scared earlier,” Qiao Chen showed no fear of Qiao Nuo's authority. It was hard to tell when it had begun, but that big boy had grown into a man who acted on his own terms.
He was cold, resolute, and merciless.
Was this still the Qiao Chen that Qiao Nuo knew?
“You siblings of the Qiao Family are all the same! The sister toys with other men’s feelings while the brother plays with women’s emotions. How can you face your deceased parents? Don’t let others think you were born to parents but raised without them!”
“Please watch your words! If it weren’t for the fact that you are Jin Mengxi’s parents, do you think you could step even half a foot into our Qiao Family?” Qiao Chen coldly addressed Mr. Jin and Mrs. Jin, fiercely protecting his family from outsiders’ judgments.
“Am I wrong? Qiao Nuo, we’ve all seen how you treat our A Yan! With a sister like you, it’s no wonder you raised such a brother!” Mr. Jin was furious but knew that today’s negotiation had ended without resolution. He stormed out with his wife in tow, seething with anger.
In the living room, only Qiao Nuo and Qiao Chen remained.
The doctor had told Qiao Nuo to avoid getting agitated or angry, as it could jeopardize her pregnancy.
Yet in this situation, how could Qiao Nuo possibly remain calm? How could she not feel anger?
She truly felt helpless; she couldn't scold or hit Qiao Chen. The child had grown up, and she had completely lost control over him.
“Qiao Chen, tell me, what are you thinking? What do you feel about Jin Mengxi...”
“Sis, I have someone I like,” Qiao Chen said firmly.
“Alright, bring her here so I can meet her.”
...
Qiao Chen promised to introduce the girl to Qiao Nuo, but honestly, Qiao Nuo had no idea what kind of girl Qiao Chen would be interested in. His thoughts were beyond her comprehension.
Moreover, given the current situation, if Qiao Chen were to go to Switzerland with her, she might truly become the kind of sister that Jin Chengyan, Second Uncle, and Aunt Er described—one who wouldn’t know how to guide her younger brother!
As she packed a few simple items, even Qiao Chen didn’t notice these changes.
Then, Jin Chengyan's call came in.
“Qiao Nuo, if it weren’t for Xi Er’s matter, I probably wouldn’t have called you in this lifetime,” Jin Chengyan's cold voice came through the phone.
Qiao Nuo was sorting through some documents when she accidentally caught sight of the property transfer papers that had arrived earlier.
And within her was their little baby.
Qiao Nuo knew that it was unlikely for her to become pregnant, yet during those days, Jin Chengyan either forgot or chose not to take precautions, resulting in their encounters being seamless.
Under Qiao Chen's management, the Qiao Family was now well-off enough to ensure that both Qiao Nuo and Qiao Kawai's unborn child would have a worry-free life. Therefore, signing that document seemed unnecessary.
"Miss Jin..." It was inevitable that someone deeply in love would be seriously hurt.
"I'm outside your house. You have three minutes to come out."
"Is there nothing we can discuss over the phone?" Qiao Nuo wasn't particularly eager to see the father of her child.
"Come out. Just you." With that, Jin Chengyan hung up the phone, leaving no room for Qiao Nuo to refuse.
Staring at her phone, Qiao Nuo was met with the busy tone, momentarily taken aback.
How could Jin Chengyan still be so domineering? Didn't he realize he could no longer order her around? What gave him the right to demand she come out to see him just because he was outside her door?
However, Qiao Nuo still instructed the nanny to take good care of Qiao Kawai before stepping outside.
Meanwhile, sitting in the driver's seat, Jin Chengyan had already discarded seven or eight cigarette butts outside his car. He knew that Qiao Chen wouldn't be home around two or three in the afternoon and that Qiao Kawai would be taking a nap. It was the perfect time for Qiao Nuo to come out.
In truth, according to Jin Chengyan's standards, he preferred to resolve matters over the phone rather than face-to-face. But seeing Qiao Nuo...
He let out a bitter smile; it was still because he missed her.
Even just a glimpse of this woman would suffice, even if they weren't discussing their issues.
Despite their history of harsh words when they met, he simply wanted to see her!
After four years of longing, now that she had returned, he had to go through so much trouble just to have a proper meeting with her.
He watched her walk out of the front door in her home clothes, wearing a beige long sweater and a pair of leggings. Did she really think she could settle things at the door without even changing her outfit?
But he also had to consider that he had only given Qiao Nuo five minutes to come out! Changing clothes and getting ready would take at least half an hour!
Qiao Nuo approached Jin Chengyan's car and noticed several cigarette butts by the door; he had been waiting for quite a while.
"What do you want to say?" Qiao Nuo frowned slightly, catching a whiff of tobacco on him. She was pregnant and couldn't be around that smell; it made her feel nauseous.
"Get in the car," Jin Chengyan said, his gaze lingering on her waist as she stood beside the vehicle.
"If you want to talk about Miss Jin and Qiao Chen, actually..."
"I said, get in the car." Jin Chengyan lowered his voice, but Qiao Nuo could still sense the slight anger in his tone.
Fine, Qiao Nuo felt herself yielding a bit.
Since running out of Jin Chengyan's office that day and discovering her pregnancy, her emotions had undergone a drastic change. She was once again conflicted about how to face Jin Chengyan.
She walked around to the passenger seat and got in.
She thought they would just chat comfortably in the car, but unexpectedly, Jin Chengyan started the engine and drove off!
"Jin Chengyan, what are you doing?" Qiao Nuo turned to look at him and noticed that stubble had appeared on his jawline; he seemed a bit haggard.
Why? Shouldn't someone in love have the best complexion?
Seeing that Jin Chengyan wasn't planning to talk to her, Qiao Nuo realized that resisting was futile. She fastened her seatbelt; her safety was the most important thing.
"Your Second Uncle and Aunt Er have already visited Qiao Chen. Honestly, we don't need to get involved in Miss Jin's matters; otherwise, it will turn into a feud between two families. I know it's easy for your Jin family to crush the Qiao family. Qiao Chen is only suing Jin to seek justice for me. I will advise him to give up on that idea, but I can't interfere with his feelings." Jin Chengyan was here today for this very reason.
Qiao Nuo decided to speak clearly with him.
However, Jin Chengyan continued to drive, ignoring any words from Qiao Nuo.
"I know that Miss Jin must be feeling very sad right now, but being sad now is better than later when she’s married to Qiao Chen, who doesn’t love her. Being together would only bring more pain and heartache. As a woman, I don’t want Miss Jin to spend her entire life in suffering. Falling in love with someone who doesn’t love you back is such a tragic experience, and I don’t want her to waste her life feeling that way."
Qiao Nuo wasn’t sure if she was talking about Jin Mengxi or herself.
What was it like to fall in love with someone who didn’t love you back?
It felt like waiting for a ship at the airport.
Qiao Nuo felt as if her mouth would dry up from speaking, yet Jin Chengyan still didn’t acknowledge her. What did he want?
"Jin Chengyan, what do you really want?" Qiao Nuo asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
Looking out at the chaotic scenery through the car window, she had no idea where Jin Chengyan intended to go.
"I truly don’t know anything about Qiao Chen and Jin Mengxi. Before you warned me, I had no information at all. It was only later that Jin Mengxi told me. I wanted to stop it, but matters of the heart can’t simply be resolved by an outsider's intervention," Qiao Nuo suddenly fell silent.
An outsider's interference—she and Jin Chengyan.
Yu Xin, Jin Zhongshu—there were so many external forces preventing Qiao Nuo from acting, leaving her with no choice but to let go.
Was it because there wasn’t enough love?
But if Qiao Nuo’s feelings for Jin Chengyan were considered insufficient love, then what kind of love could be deemed complete?
"Continue." At the sudden halt of Qiao Nuo’s voice, Jin Chengyan unexpectedly urged her to go on.
Qiao Nuo leaned back against the seat like a deflated balloon, not saying a word.
The car continued to drive aimlessly down the road. Buckled in, Qiao Nuo turned her head to watch the scenery rush by outside. Suddenly, she fell silent. In a space that felt like it belonged to Jin Chengyan, her heart gradually began to calm.
"Baby, look," she thought, "the man sitting next to your mother is your father. But you won't see him when you're born. I'm sorry. Because of the issues between your dad and me, you will come into this world without a father. But I swear on my love for you that I cannot lose you, nor can I lose my love. You will forgive me, won't you?"
Qiao Nuo instinctively placed her hand on her lower abdomen, feeling the vibrant life within her.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jin Chengyan noticed Qiao Nuo resting her hand on her belly.
He recalled the times when they were together; during her menstrual days, she would often be in severe pain. Today, she looked unwell—had she started her period?
He turned the steering wheel, remembering there was a pharmacy nearby.
After turning at two intersections, he found a pharmacy and parked the car by the roadside. He unbuckled his seatbelt.
Before getting out, he glanced back at Qiao Nuo. "If I come back and don’t see you, I really don’t know what I might do." Jin Chengyan genuinely had no idea where his limits lay, but if he returned and found Qiao Nuo gone, he might just tear down the entire Qiao family!
Qiao Nuo remained silent. She hadn’t said she was leaving, but his words made her consider it—maybe she should just go?
Yet, Qiao Nuo stayed in the passenger seat, watching as Jin Chengyan hurried into the pharmacy. Was his stomach acting up again?
Despite Jin Chengyan's outwardly impressive image as the high-flying CEO of the Jin Corporation, Qiao Nuo knew the price he paid for that facade. He often worked late into the night and even when he returned home, there were always countless tasks waiting for him.
He had some capable employees, but many matters required his personal attention. He had built the Jin Corporation into an impregnable empire through immense sacrifice.
Ignoring minor ailments was one thing; Qiao Nuo remembered a time when he had been hospitalized for gastric bleeding—his stomach was quite fragile.
She opened the glove compartment and found it was indeed empty of medicine.
He wouldn't take care of himself; he hadn't four years ago, and he still wouldn't four years later.
Concern surged in Qiao Nuo's heart, and she found it impossible to suppress.
Why not just leave? What did Jin Chengyan's harsh words just now even mean? Hadn't he said plenty of harsh things to her in the past?
At first, he told her not to fall in love with him, but she did anyway! Later, he asked her not to get involved with Ruan Shengyu, yet she still did!
But in the end, Jin Chengyan hadn't really done anything to her!
So even if she got out of the car and left, what could Jin Chengyan possibly do?
Perhaps it was just because of his affection for her!
Qiao Nuo let out a bitter smile, closed the storage compartment, and leaned back against the chair.
Before long, Jin Chengyan emerged from the pharmacy, holding a cup of hot water in one hand and a bag in the other.
Once inside the car, he handed Qiao Nuo a cup containing a dark red liquid.
"Ah?" Qiao Nuo was somewhat bewildered. She wasn't thirsty, and the drink looked utterly disgusting; she had no desire to consume it.
"Take it and drink it," Jin Chengyan said, his voice somewhat stiff.
"I don't want to drink it. With Qiao Chen and Miss Jin not together anymore, you wouldn't go so far as to harm me, would you? What is this stuff?" Qiao Nuo frowned, feeling nauseous just from the smell, let alone drinking it.
Three dark lines appeared on Jin Chengyan's forehead. Harm her?
"If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't use such lowly means; at least I wouldn't choose to act in my own car," he said as he took Qiao Nuo's hand and placed the cup into her palm.
Their hands brushed against each other like this, and Qiao Nuo instinctively wanted to pull back.
To her surprise, Jin Chengyan did the same, quickly retracting his hand as if neither of them wanted to touch the other.
"Your menstrual cycle has been irregular. The shop assistant said this brand is better; you should give it a try."
"Ah?" How did he know she was on her period?
"You were just holding your stomach."
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