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墨書 Inktalez
Qiao Nuo knew that this was Yan Beiting's necklace, and Jin Chengyan was aware of it too.
However, Jin Chengyan thought it was something Yan Beiting had given to Qiao Nuo four years ago. But Qiao Nuo knew that wasn't true; Yan Beiting had never given her this necklace. She had only started using this bag a few days ago, and she was well aware of what was inside.
Where did this unexpected item come from? Who put it there?
She hadn't interacted with anyone in the past couple of days!
“Mommy, let’s go have fun at the Bund! We’ve never gone out as a family of three!” Qiao Kawai said sweetly, sitting in Jin Chengyan's lap and pulling on Qiao Nuo's hand.
Qiao Nuo couldn’t refuse Qiao Kawai. Just seeing her made her heart melt.
Qiao Kawai was pitiful; her father had been gone since she was born, and her mother had used her to extract money from Yan Beiting. Later, after undergoing surgery, thankfully, she had recovered now.
But if anything were to happen to her while giving birth to her own child, then Qiao Kawai would be left with only Qiao Chen as her family in this world.
It wasn’t that Qiao Chen wouldn’t take care of people, but Qiao Kawai had grown accustomed to living with Qiao Nuo. She was her mother; would it be too selfish to abandon her for the sake of having another child?
Moreover, to leave everything behind just to have her own child?
What about Jin Chengyan?
After seeing her, he hadn’t scolded her, but she knew he must have a lot on his mind. He probably wanted to tell her how reckless she was and felt like yelling at her, yet he said nothing except to go home.
He must have been suppressing his feelings when he uttered those two words to Qiao Nuo.
“Alright, let’s go.” Qiao Nuo took back the necklace and placed it inside the lining of the bag. As for Yan Beiting, that could wait for another time.
“Great! I’m so excited about our trip! With Daddy and Mommy here, we’re going to take photos later! Since today is so happy, can I have McDonald's?”
“Mai Mai?” Jin Chengyan did not understand the world of children.
“No way,” Qiao Nuo immediately rejected, without a second thought. “You can’t eat fried food. I’ll take you to eat Xiao Long Bao, little wontons, pumpkin cakes, and so many other snacks that are much better than Mai Mai.”
Qiao Kawai seemed to understand a bit, as if what Mommy said made more sense. Mai Mai didn’t seem that delicious anymore.
Jin Chengyan watched the conversation between the mother and daughter. This was his ideal state—having a wife and a daughter by his side. Everything was just perfect as it was.
Why should he be obsessed with whether the child was his? Why would he want to have a child that might disrupt their current happiness?
Well, perhaps this wasn’t the right time to discuss such matters. After all, Yan Beiting had just persuaded Qiao Nuo, who had been intent on running away to an unknown place to have a baby, to come back. If he acted impulsively again, everything Yan Beiting had done would go to waste.
On the Bund in spring, the sun shone brightly, and the weather was pleasant. The afternoon sunlight felt warm and comfortable against their skin.
Qiao Kawai held Jin Chengyan’s hand with one hand and Qiao Nuo’s with the other.
She enjoyed this state of being. Before, there was no Daddy, only Xi Dad. But Mommy had clearly told her that he wasn’t her father!
Only after meeting Jin Chengyan did she feel it was okay to call him Daddy, as Mommy showed no objection at all because they were meant to be together!
So now, Qiao Kawai felt very happy. Walking down the street made her feel that the air was particularly good and everything was wonderful. Just walking like this brought her joy.
Meanwhile, high above them, Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan could converse freely as long as they kept their voices low enough for Qiao Kawai not to hear.
“Qiao Nuo, in a couple of days, come back with me to Qin Cheng and stay by my side,” he said, looking at her with a hint of pleading in his eyes.
At this moment, if he didn’t even plead or lower himself a little, when would be the right time to do so?
For Qiao Nuo, he could do many things as long as she wouldn’t leave him or abandon him alone.
Four years ago, he had already experienced enough of the sorrow of living alone. Not a single night had brought him peace, and it was only after Qiao Nuo returned that things began to change a little.
He knew that if he were to lose Qiao Nuo again, his future would be completely directionless.
Perhaps it was after meeting Qiao Nuo that Jin Chengyan truly understood what love was.
"Well..." If he were to leave, he might have done so the moment he saw Jin Chengyan, but for now, he hadn’t. They were still together, strolling along the Bund with Qiao Kawai, like a family of three on vacation.
Hearing Qiao Nuo's affirmative response eased Jin Chengyan's heart a bit. As for the child, he would slowly talk to Qiao Nuo. There would come a day when she would be persuaded; as long as she didn’t run away, everything would be fine.
"But you can't force me to have surgery. If you do, I won't forgive you!" Qiao Nuo spoke with such determination that Jin Chengyan found himself unable to refute her. It was as if the moment he said no, she would vanish.
"Okay." What else could Jin Chengyan say? Besides agreeing and catering to this Young Madam, what other options did he have?
They had reached a consensus; they would return to Qin Cheng together and stay together. However, Jin Chengyan could not pressure Qiao Nuo into having surgery. The very thought of forcing her onto the operating table was something he couldn’t even entertain; otherwise, she might disappear in an instant!
Yet, deep down, Jin Chengyan felt anxious. Qiao Nuo was being incredibly willful, insisting on having a child without regard for her health and even threatening him!
But there was nothing he could do; he could only endure her threats.
After all, Qiao Nuo resided in his heart. Any injury she suffered would cause him pain and make him doubt himself!
This was… how Jin Chengyan loved someone.
If he couldn’t provide complete peace of mind, he would question his own abilities.
…
After spending most of the day playing with Qiao Kawai, by evening, Jin Chengyan noticed that Qiao Nuo seemed a bit tired. He coaxed and persuaded the excited Qiao Kawai into going back to the hotel.
Qiao Nuo realized that Jin Chengyan was staying in the same hotel as her, with their rooms just one floor apart.
So, he had come yesterday, and as soon as he learned she was here, he rushed over.
This person truly...
After giving Qiao Kawai a bath, she quickly crawled into bed and fell asleep, exhausted from playing all day.
With the lights off in the room, Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan sat in the living room. The television was playing the news, but neither of them paid attention to what was on.
Each lost in their own thoughts.
“Qiao Nuo, I don’t know if my mother has ever threatened you with that little trick. If she has offended you in any way, please forgive her; she is still my mother.”
Qiao Nuo looked up slightly at him, realizing that he knew.
“It’s fine. I never blamed your mother. That’s something any mother would do. She thinks I only bring you harm, so naturally, she would want me to leave you.”
“No.”
“Huh?” Qiao Nuo didn’t quite understand why Jin Chengyan suddenly interrupted her.
“You have never brought me harm. If we must talk about harm, it is I who has caused you the most pain.” If it weren’t for meeting Jin Chengyan, Qiao Nuo might be living an ordinary life now—going to work and coming home every day, with someone who truly loved her.
Whether it was Huo Yawen, Yan Beiting, or Xi Yisheng, they all deeply loved Qiao Nuo. He believed they would never let her come to any harm.
But Qiao Nuo chose him and continued to live in the depths of suffering; there were hardly any happy days to speak of.
“In truth, it’s not even about harm. Loving someone always feels sweet, no matter what; it’s simply a matter of willingness.” Because of love, even if one gets hurt, it is voluntary. One never feels wronged; it’s just that in those moments of pain, one struggles to understand why the feelings invested don’t yield any return.
However, from the moment you wish to repay that feeling, it becomes impure.
Love is not a transaction; giving does not necessarily mean receiving something in return.
This was probably the most peaceful moment between them, Jin Chengyan thought.
If this momentum continues, it might change Qiao Nuo's mind. Don't rush, don't rush.
"Today on Huaihai Road, a man suddenly collapsed and was taken to the hospital. Since he had no identification on him and his phone is password-protected, the hospital has been unable to contact any relatives or friends..."
The sudden news report reached Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan's ears.
Huaihai Road—the street where Qiao Nuo had dined with Yan Beiting before.
It was during a pause in their conversation that Qiao Nuo glanced at the television and saw footage from the reporter; it was the very restaurant where she and Yan Beiting had eaten.
The man being carried on a stretcher—who else could it be but him?
"A Yan, that... Ye Yun's friend, he said he knows you!" Qiao Nuo pointed at the television and said to Jin Chengyan.
Jin Chengyan immediately looked up at the screen, and after a moment of composure, Yan Beiting's face appeared.
He suddenly jumped up from the sofa!
He had caught part of the report—collapsed? How could that be possible!
"A Yan, he knows Yan Beiting, right? He knows a lot of things, doesn't he?" Qiao Nuo noticed Jin Chengyan's unusual reaction. This was someone Jin Chengyan had never introduced to her.
In fact, over the past few days, Qiao Nuo had interacted with this person, and now there was a necklace belonging to Yan Beiting in her bag!
Who else would put this thing in her bag besides him?
Jin Chengyan furrowed his brows slightly; Yan Beiting must be hiding something from him!
He talked about being tired of the Yan Family's life, about needing to seek an ideal life, but why didn't he just straightforwardly tell the Yan Family that he wanted to live his own life?
Yan Grandpa wasn't unreasonable!
So, Yan Beiting was intentionally concealing something. He noted down the hospital mentioned in the news report.
He immediately called Ye Yun.
"Ye Yun, tell me, is Yan Beiting hiding something from me? What’s the real reason you all are going to Canada?" In fact, Jin Chengyan could have just asked A Shan to investigate. Even if Yan Beiting wanted to suppress this news, it would still be somewhat difficult for A Shan to dig it up with a little effort.
So asking Ye Yun directly was the most straightforward approach.
However, Qiao Nuo felt uneasy upon hearing Jin Chengyan say this!
Didn’t Jin Chengyan say that Yan Beiting was dead?
Why was Yan Beiting still hiding something from him?
Ye Yun, what did she know?
She grasped Jin Chengyan's arm in confusion, her eyes questioning him.
She didn’t interrupt him because she knew Ye Yun had something to say on the other end.
At this point, Jin Chengyan felt there was no need to hide anything from Qiao Nuo.
He turned on the speakerphone, allowing Qiao Nuo to hear what Ye Yun was saying.
"Since the last explosion, although Yan Beiting has survived, he has suffered varying degrees of damage to his organs. The doctors say it’s a miracle he has made it this far. We are going to Canada because the air is better there, and the medical environment is relatively good. In the end, he said that even if he dies there, Qin Cheng's people will never know."
Dying there, and no one would know.
Qiao Nuo felt a heavy weight in her heart; so Yan Beiting was still alive. If she guessed correctly, the person lying in the hospital right now was indeed Yan Beiting!
He had deceived everyone, even Qiao Nuo herself, claiming he was dead when in fact he was alive.
He just didn’t want them to experience the despair of losing him again.
"Jin Shao, Yan Beiting is having a very hard time. I beg you, I beg your wife, to let him go so he can live his life well from now on. At the very least, he shouldn't have to get involved in your matters anymore!" Ye Yun's voice was cold; he did not agree with Yan Beiting interfering in Qiao Nuo and Jin Chengyan's affairs, but Yan Beiting insisted.
Jin Chengyan was at a loss for words, not even daring to tell Ye Yun that Yan Beiting had been sent to the hospital here. Due to changes in his identity, no one could contact anyone from the Yan family anymore!
"I understand." Jin Chengyan hung up the phone and looked at Qiao Nuo; she had already fallen apart.
"He's still alive, right?" Qiao Nuo needed to hear Jin Chengyan say it with his own mouth.
"Qiao Nuo, if you calm down, I will tell you."
"Okay, I’ll calm down!" Qiao Nuo was far from calm; she had always thought he was dead but felt as if he were right beside her. That feeling was truly unbearable. Now suddenly learning that he might still be alive filled her with an excitement that she found hard to express in words.
Jin Chengyan had Qiao Nuo sit on the sofa so she would have some support when she heard the news.
"The person you saw on television just now is Yan Beiting; he is still alive..."
At this point, Qiao Nuo tightly grasped Jin Chengyan's clothing; she just knew he was alive.
But why didn't he tell her?
Qiao Nuo couldn't understand. Even if he had undergone plastic surgery, even if he no longer had the same face, as long as she knew he was still alive, she wouldn't have missed him for four years or felt guilty for that long.
"During the time he left you, he truly believed he was beyond saving. But later, he survived. However, with extensive burns and the recovery process, during your lowest moments, he wasn't doing any better. He didn't want to burden you with his despair. He didn't want you to suffer the pain of losing him again. Just like now."
From Ye Yun's words, it seemed that Yan Beiting's condition was quite dire. He had planned to go to Canada, but in the end, a phone call made him stay.
"I need to go to the hospital to see him! I have to go!" Qiao Nuo jumped up from the sofa, almost rushing out of the room, but Jin Chengyan caught her and pulled her back into his arms.
"You promised me you'd stay calm," Jin Chengyan said, knowing that Qiao Nuo was anything but calm at that moment. "I can't let you go like this!"
Qiao Nuo was weak; how could she not be emotional seeing Yan Beiting like that?
"I'm perfectly calm! I've never been as calm as I am right now!" Yet claiming to be calm only proved she was anything but.
"If we both go to the hospital now, what will happen to Xiao Kawai?" Jin Chengyan could only use Qiao Kawai as a shield; he knew she wouldn’t leave Xiao Kawai alone.
"Have the hotel staff watch her!" It seemed that Qiao Nuo was determined to go. At this point, how could Jin Chengyan stop her?
He really couldn't stop her!
"Let me go! I need to know he's alive! Do you know I owe him a life?"
She owed him a life; if she wasn't sure he was alive, she would never find peace for the rest of her days!
How could anyone stand in Qiao Nuo's way? If she wasn't allowed to go, she'd threaten to harm herself in an instant!
Jin Chengyan arranged for the hotel staff to take care of Qiao Kawai. Before going to bed that night, Qiao Kawai was still a bit restless, but once asleep, she would likely sleep soundly until morning after a tiring day.
Jin Chengyan took Qiao Nuo to the hospital. In this unfamiliar city, within the walls of an unknown hospital, surrounded by strangers, everyone wore an expression of indifference. Qiao Nuo didn’t even pay attention to Jin Chengyan beside her; she went straight to the nurse's station to inquire about the patient who had been brought in today, unconscious and yet to awaken.
In the intensive care unit, upon receiving a response, Qiao Nuo hurried over.
Through the glass, she saw a man lying on the hospital bed, pale and unfamiliar.
Although they had crossed paths a few times before, at that moment, Qiao Nuo did not know he was Yan Beiting. She only thought his eyes resembled those of Yan Beiting; beyond that, she didn’t think much more.
It turned out he was indeed Yan Beiting.
It turned out she had missed him for such a long time.
“Yan Beiting…” Qiao Nuo still recalled the day when Yan Beiting stood before her, covered in blood, so much so that she couldn’t even recognize his face!
Later, she fainted directly, and when she saw him again, he was wrapped in bandages.
When they met again, he had changed his face entirely.
“Are you family of the patient?” The doctor finally felt relieved upon seeing someone come to visit Yan Beiting. This gentleman, dressed expensively, had no identification proving his identity; the only ID they found did not bear his face.
His condition was quite serious and required expensive treatment. If no one came to take responsibility for him, they would likely hesitate to proceed with further risks.
“We are,” Jin Chengyan said as he supported Qiao Nuo’s shoulder; otherwise, he truly believed she might collapse onto the floor.
“The situation is quite complicated. For a patient like him, there should have been detailed treatment prior. We are not his attending physicians; he has been in a coma and we cannot take further action without more information. If you have his medical records, please provide them to us for review or consider transferring him back to his original hospital.”
“Is it very serious?” Qiao Nuo asked softly.
“To be honest, it’s a miracle he has survived this long.”
When Qiao Nuo heard those words, all her strength seemed to press down on Jin Chengyan. Yan Beiting's condition was dire.
The key was that Jin Chengyan had no idea about Yan Beiting's situation. He could only call Ye Yun, asking him to speak with the doctor about Yan Beiting's illness. Meanwhile, Qiao Nuo had already put on a sterile suit, preparing to see Yan Beiting.
Jin Chengyan also donned a sterile suit; at this moment, he couldn't let Qiao Nuo go in to see Yan Beiting alone.
In the oppressive atmosphere of the intensive care unit, Qiao Nuo felt as if each step she took was insubstantial. She had never imagined that seeing Yan Beiting again would be in such a state.
She had never thought that the man who had mistaken her for someone else during their blind date, the graceful Yan Beiting, would be lying here in such a condition.
He should still be charming, healthy, and strong—the most radiant one in the crowd—not this frail version of him.
She reached out and gently held Yan Beiting's hand. This was indeed his hand; upon closer inspection, there were burn marks on it. Usually, when he wore long sleeves and pants, they were completely hidden. Now, at such a close distance, Qiao Nuo could see them clearly.
Why hadn’t she recognized it sooner?
“Yan Beiting…” Qiao Nuo realized she could only call his name; she couldn’t utter anything else.
She had always wanted to say sorry, always wished to reverse everything, to turn back time to that day when she could have been at ease undergoing surgery in the operating room. Even if it meant she would be the one who died in the explosion, she wouldn’t feel this heartbroken!
This scene fell into Jin Chengyan's eyes; it would be a lie to say he wasn’t saddened. The complex emotions stirred within him—he didn’t want Qiao Nuo to shed tears for another man, yet this man had nearly lost his life for her sake.
He shouldn’t feel jealous; he shouldn’t entertain thoughts of stopping her.
Suddenly, Qiao Nuo felt the hand in hers move slightly.
The machines beside the bed also began to show signs of change.
“Is he waking up?” Qiao Nuo asked Jin Chengyan nervously as she stared at Yan Beiting, hardly daring to blink.
Yan Beiting woke up, his eyelids gently fluttering open. The unfamiliar hospital room looked almost the same as any other, and he realized he was in a hospital.
Ah, Jin Chengyan and Qiao Nuo were both there.
“Yan Beiting!” Qiao Nuo exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. Yan Beiting opened his eyes; this man was still alive.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, as if he were trying to reassure her.
But suddenly, Qiao Nuo's brow furrowed in pain; her stomach hurt badly.
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